Considering the current situation in West Asia, the Central and State Governments are continuously monitoring the availability and prices of petroleum products as well as other essential commodities. All necessary steps are being taken by the government to ensure that these essential commodities remain easily available to ordinary citizens.

In this context, an important press briefing was organized today at the Press Information Bureau, Ahmedabad. During the press briefing, the present officials gave detailed information regarding the availability of CNG and PNG, the impact of the West Asia situation on the industries of Gujarat, and the steps taken to deal with this situation.

Shri K.C. Sampat, Additional Commissioner of the Industries and Mines Department of Gujarat, Shri Dipen Chauhan, Senior Vice President of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, and Shri Prashant Pathrabe, Director General of PIB, were present at this press briefing. The officials expressed confidence that the necessary energy supply, including CNG and PNG, is stable in the state and all necessary advance preparations have been made in view of the situation so that ordinary citizens and industries do not have to face any kind of trouble.

During this, Shri K.C. Sampat, Additional Commissioner of the Industries and Mines Department, stated that, “The restriction on solid alternative fuels for industrial and commercial units has been removed for three months, so that operational flexibility can be ensured by reducing the pressure on gas supply.” He further said that, “The impact of the West Asia situation has currently remained limited on the state’s industrial sector and most of the industries are operating regularly, although some industries have been partially affected.” He further added that the state government is giving sufficient importance to priority sectors along with the effective management of LNG and LPG supply, and operations are being carried out under the highest priority to ensure that domestic LPG and PNG supply remains uninterrupted. Detailed information about the West Asia crisis on Gujarat's industries is given below.

Impact on Gujarat's Industries

Based on information received from District Industry Centres, GIDC offices, and Labour offices located in all districts of the state, a consolidated report on the impact of the West Asia crisis on the industrial sector is as follows:

Main Statistical Information:

• Approximately 4,11,733 industries are registered in the state. Out of these, 1,212 industries are found to have closed due to sustainability issues, and approximately 28,517 industries are operating with partially reduced operations. The industries in Morbi have closed not due to gas supply but due to viability constraints.

• No major incidents of worker layoffs have been recorded.

• Approximately 159 industrial community kitchens have been started, benefiting approximately 50,000 industrial workers.

Steps Taken at District Level:

• Coordination meetings were held periodically with all stakeholders by the state government.

• The district administration was actively involved with stakeholders of the industrial sector by holding coordination and review meetings with industrialists and representatives of various industrial groups. These conversations facilitated the exchange of real-time information regarding operational challenges.

• Timely guidance and all possible assistance were provided to industries facing issues related to raw material availability, transport disruptions, and supply chain disruptions. District officials, in coordination with relevant departments and agencies, provided advisory assistance and practical solutions wherever possible.

State Level Steps:

• The Government of Gujarat, in coordination with the Government of India, has implemented several regulatory, administrative, and fuel-supply management measures to mitigate the adverse impact of disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Specifically, considering the impact on the state's industrial activities, various regulatory, administrative, and fuel-supply management related measures have been implemented.

• Prioritizing Critical Sectors: As per the advisory issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, fuel supply has been prioritized for key industries including steel, automobile manufacturing, textiles, dyes, chemicals, and plastics.

• Rational Adjustment of Industrial Gas Supply: Gujarat has implemented a rational reduction in gas supply to industrial customers to ensure the continuity of domestic LPG and PNG supply. The level of reduction was kept low for fertilizer and dairy processing units.

• Temporary Permission for Alternative Fuels: To reduce the burden on LPG and PNG supply, industrial and commercial establishments were given temporary permission to use alternative fuels such as coal, kerosene, biomass, and fuels derived from waste. Through a circular dated 30/03/2026, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board has given temporary permission to industrial and commercial establishments to use solid alternative fuels for a period of three months to reduce the burden on LPG and PNG supply.

• Operational Flexibility in Distribution: District administrations have been empowered to allow extended hours for LPG distribution, including daytime delivery, to ensure rapid distribution as needed.

• 5 kg cylinders are being provided to industrial workers for their daily use, and priority is also being given to PNG connections.

Current Situation:

• The impact of the West Asia crisis on the state's industrial sector appears limited.

• Most industries are functional, although some have been partially affected.

• The situation is being continuously monitored and necessary supportive measures are being implemented periodically as required.

Subsequently, during the press briefing, the Senior Vice President of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, Shri Dipen Chauhan, stated that, “Since the beginning of the West Asia crisis until now, not a single CNG station has closed in Gujarat and the gas supply has been maintained continuously.” He further added that approximately 40 lakh kg of CNG is consumed daily in the state, based on which about 7.50 lakh vehicles are operated. Stating that an adequate quantity of gas is available in the state, he also appealed to the citizens to get PNG connections as soon as possible.

Shri Dipen Chauhan has provided detailed information regarding the status of Gujarat in terms of City Gas Distribution (CGD).

City Gas Distribution (CGD) Status: Gujarat

Stable fuel supply in Gujarat - PNG adoption is rapidly increasing due to customer-friendly initiatives and state-wide campaigns: The supply of natural gas, petrol, diesel, and other essential fuels and commodities in Gujarat remains stable, adequate, and well-organized. No cuts of any kind have been imposed on industrial gas supply. The quantity of gas is sufficient, but since its rate is in line with the global situation, it affects industries. Under the guidance of the state government, coordinated efforts by all departments, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), and City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities have strengthened the supply chain, ensuring uninterrupted availability in the coming months.

Gujarat - A leading CGD state in India: Gujarat is the first state in India to achieve full coverage under the City Gas Licenses granted by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). Gujarat still leads in City Gas Distribution in the country.

CGD Coverage in India Vs Gujarat:

Gujarat accounts for approximately 23% of the total domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) customers in the country, reflecting its high penetration in the state.

No.	Customer Segment	India	Gujarat	% Share of Gujarat State in India
1	Domestic PNG Connections	1,60,61,757	37,43,703	23%
2	Commercial Connections	47,765	24,456	51%
3	Industrial Connections	21,250	5,888	28%
4	CNG Stations	8,527	1,073	13%

(Source: PPAC)

PNG Expansion Campaign - Strong Growth and Momentum: The state-wide campaign to promote the transition from LPG to PNG has yielded significant results.

• Significant increase in the pace of work of all entities during March to April 5, 2026:
• New Domestic Registrations: 49,898 new PNG registrations were completed.
• New Domestic Conversions: 26,909 PNG conversions were successfully completed.
• Commercial Growth: 911 new commercial registrations and 496 conversions took place during this period.
• An increase of 948% has been observed in domestic registrations following the government instruction.
• All CGD companies, including Gujarat Gas, are actively contributing to this rapid adoption.

PNG Connectivity for Essential Services - Priority Approach:

The government has directed all CGD entities to prioritize PNG connections for essential service categories such as hospitals, schools, hostels, community kitchens, and industrial canteens. This initiative has significantly improved the reliability and continuity of gas supply in these critical sectors. During March 2026, significant efforts resulted in substantial registrations and connections in these categories, ensuring uninterrupted and safe energy supply for essential services.

• All CGD entities are running a special campaign to connect these customer categories on a priority basis.
• A total of 225 new connections were registered under these categories and 89 new connections were provided.
• Industrial Canteens: Currently leading in this category with 2,159 existing connections and 19 new connections.
• Schools/Colleges: 1,599 existing connections and 47 new connections have been provided.
• Community Kitchens and Hospitals: Constant growth is being observed in these sectors, with 1,346 and 688 existing connections and 28 and 9 new connections provided respectively.

Customer-Centric Initiatives - Simple, Fast, and Digital Services: To enhance customer convenience and accelerate PNG adoption, several key initiatives have been implemented:

• Fast Connection Process: The timeframe has been reduced to 7 days with simple documentation.
• QR Code-based Self-Registration: A simple and seamless digital application system.
• Doorstep Services: Society-level camps and on-spot registration support.
• 360° Awareness Campaign: Reaching people through TV, radio, social media, and ground engagement.
• Commercial Segment Focus: Targeted conversion of hotels, canteens, and industries to PNG.

Special Incentive Scheme - Direct Benefit to Customers:

• Many CGD (City Gas Distribution) companies will provide a rebate of ₹500 to customers applying for new domestic PNG connections.

Social and Environmental Impact:

• Reduction in carbon emissions
• Safer and more reliable energy supply
• Promotion of clean and green energy

Strengthening Infrastructure and Implementation Capacity:

• Appointment of additional contractors, technicians, and workforce
• Adequate stock of GI pipes and critical materials
• Improved contractor payment cycles and performance incentives
• Fast-tracking tendering and strengthening the vendor ecosystem

CNG stations for domestic customers and vehicles fall under 'Priority Sector Category-I' for gas allocation.

Status of LNG Quantity:

Sufficient quantities of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) are available at Gujarat's Mundra and Dahej terminals, and with the arrival of four additional cargoes during April-May 2026, the requirement for near future will be met. Procurement and supply from alternative sources by GSPC are ensured, and the continuity of supply will be maintained in the coming time through constant coordination with suppliers.

SM/IJ/NP/JD

(Release ID: 2249801) Visitor Counter : 691