Restart kerosene sales at ration shops

Demand to the Centre from Ration Shop Dealers due to LPG Shortage

New Delhi: In the backdrop of a shortage of LPG cylinders caused by the war in the Middle East, the All India Fair Price Shop Dealers Federation has written a letter to the Union Government requesting that the kerosene quota for ration shops across the country be approved again. Kerosene, once phased out in favour of LPG as part of the Government’s push for cleaner cooking fuel, may make a quiet return to Indian kitchens amid cooking gas shortages triggered by the Iran–Israel conflict. The Centre on Thursday announced an additional allocation of 48,000 kilolitres (kl) of kerosene to states, over and above the regular monthly quota of 1 lakh kl, to be distributed mainly through ration shops for cooking and lighting purposes as LNG supplies tighten, reports said.

Emergency allocation to address fuel shortages

As per the reports, the increased allocation was necessitated by reduced availability of LNG due to the West Asia conflict, prompting a search for alternative fuels that could be quickly deployed. Kerosene was considered a viable option because it can be readily manufactured on an industrial scale through crude oil refining and used without major infrastructure changes.