How Shivalik's 46,000-tonne LPG cargo will address cooking gas shortage in India
India Today
A 46,000-tonne LPG shipment aboard Shivalik reached Gujarat's Mundra Port, carrying around 32 lakh domestic cylinders, as authorities rushed supplies to ease shortages triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
The LPG carrier Shivalik arrived at Gujarat's Mundra Port on Monday carrying around 46,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a shipment expected to temporarily ease supply pressure for domestic consumers amid disruptions in global energy routes, officials said.
The vessel, a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) owned by the Shipping Corporation of India, is carrying a quantity of LPG equivalent to around 3.24 million standard 14.2-kg domestic cylinders -- roughly 32.4 lakh cylinders used by Indian households.
Officials said that the cargo alone could meet nearly one day of India's total LPG import requirement, underscoring the significance of the shipment at a time when supply chains are under strain due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Government sources said port authorities have been directed to prioritise the discharge of LPG from both the Shivalik and another LPG carrier, Nanda Devi, immediately after they dock.
Distribution of the gas will follow a priority order mandated by the government. Households will be served first, followed by hospitals and educational institutions, with supplies to other commercial users allocated on a case-by-case basis.
The arrival of the Shivalik comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions in West Asia. Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but critical shipping corridor between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
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