In a significant move to secure the continuous supply of domestic cooking gas, the Indian government has enacted the Essential Commodities Act (ECA). This decision mandates refineries and petrochemical units to maximize the production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and to funnel essential hydrocarbon streams into the LPG pool. By prioritizing LPG production over petrochemical manufacturing, the government aims to guarantee a steady supply for households.

According to directives from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas released late Monday, refineries are required to divert the entire output of C3 and C4 hydrocarbon streams, which include propane, butane, propylene, and butylene, towards LPG production. This directive ensures that domestic consumers have priority over LPG resources, thereby improving the availability of cooking gas at homes.

Furthermore, the implemented order stipulates that the supply of these hydrocarbon streams should be exclusively allocated to three government-owned oil marketing companies: Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation. Together, these companies manage almost the entire distribution of domestic LPG in the country, ensuring that the supply chain remains robust and effective for millions of households across India.