The Iran war has already rattled India's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market. Now another energy artery is under scrutiny: the country's rapidly expanding network of piped natural gas (PNG) - gas delivered by pipeline to homes and businesses. Demand for this natural gas comes from fertiliser plants, industry and gas-fired power, as well as city gas networks - which supply PNG to households and CNG (compressed natural gas) to vehicles.
Of these, city gas to homes is the standout grower, expanding steadily as the network spreads across urban India. India now has more than 15 million PNG connections, a number rising fast as policymakers nudge households to swap cylinders for gas on tap. At the same time, demand from CNG vehicles has also climbed steadily, with CNG now India's second-largest auto fuel after petrol.
If tankers carrying LPG struggle to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the question in many urban Indian homes is simple - could the gas in their kitchen pipelines be next to feel the squeeze? Probably not - at least not immediately. India's piped gas supply is a blend of domestic production and imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
About half of India's PNG supply is domestic gas drilled from onshore and offshore fields - for example by companies such as ONGC and Reliance. The balance is met through LNG imports. No disruption is expected for homes and vehicles [using piped gas]. The government has given priority to these two sectors, says Rahul Chopra, managing director for Haryana City Gas Distribution Limited.
In a supply squeeze, the government tends to protect priority sectors - especially fertiliser plants and households connected to piped gas. That means the first casualties are usually industry and power generators. For India's urban consumers using piped gas, the immediate risk is price rather than shortage. If disruption at Hormuz persists, India's gas market will adjust the usual way: through higher prices and weaker industrial demand. Households may keep their kitchen taps running - but not cheaply.
Of these, city gas to homes is the standout grower, expanding steadily as the network spreads across urban India. India now has more than 15 million PNG connections, a number rising fast as policymakers nudge households to swap cylinders for gas on tap. At the same time, demand from CNG vehicles has also climbed steadily, with CNG now India's second-largest auto fuel after petrol.
If tankers carrying LPG struggle to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the question in many urban Indian homes is simple - could the gas in their kitchen pipelines be next to feel the squeeze? Probably not - at least not immediately. India's piped gas supply is a blend of domestic production and imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
About half of India's PNG supply is domestic gas drilled from onshore and offshore fields - for example by companies such as ONGC and Reliance. The balance is met through LNG imports. No disruption is expected for homes and vehicles [using piped gas]. The government has given priority to these two sectors, says Rahul Chopra, managing director for Haryana City Gas Distribution Limited.
In a supply squeeze, the government tends to protect priority sectors - especially fertiliser plants and households connected to piped gas. That means the first casualties are usually industry and power generators. For India's urban consumers using piped gas, the immediate risk is price rather than shortage. If disruption at Hormuz persists, India's gas market will adjust the usual way: through higher prices and weaker industrial demand. Households may keep their kitchen taps running - but not cheaply.
