India Takes Measures to Ensure Energy Security Amid Middle East Tensions

New Delhi: Rising geo-political tensions and a war-like situation in the Middle East are threatening India's energy security. Amid fears of supply disruptions from the Gulf countries, the Indian government has taken a very tough stand. Government issues orders to refineries to maximise production to ensure that there is no shortage of cooking gas (LPG) in the country. Emergency provisions have been invoked under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The central government has directed all oil refineries, public and private, to use emergency powers under the Act to order companies to ramp up production of any essential commodity. The government has made it clear that instead of implementing this order with immediate effect, refineries have been instructed to use only liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for their main purpose of making other petroleum products, such as propane and butane.