India's LPG Crisis: Super Tanker Crosses Hormuz for Fuel

An India-linked supertanker is making a rare attempt to cross the Strait of Hormuz, carrying about 45,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas. This move highlights the severe cooking fuel crisis in India. The tanker, named 'Sarv Shakti,' is headed towards the Gulf of Oman, and it's the first Indian-connected vessel to make this journey since the U.S. blockade started. India’s LPG offtake has dropped by 26.6%, plummeting from over 3 million tonnes in January to just 2.4 million tonnes in March. Long lines at gas distribution centers are becoming common, and reports of migration due to fuel shortages are surfacing. In response, India is ramping up LPG imports from the U.S. and Argentina, while increasing domestic production by 60%. Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that new piped natural gas connections are accelerating to ease the pressure on LPG supplies. This situation is critical, as India is the world's second-largest LPG consumer, and how it navigates this crisis will impact millions of households.