LPG transporters strike: OMCs assure people of uninterrupted cooking gas supply in Telangana, Andhra, other states

Hyderabad: Oil marketing companies (OMCs), including Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL), have assured the public of uninterrupted LPG supply.

This follows the strike announced by the Southern Region Bulk LPG Transport Owners Association.

The strike, which involves bulk LPG transporters, follows the finalization of a new transportation tender that includes revised safety and operational guidelines. The OMCs have urged the public not to panic and emphasized that LPG cylinder supplies remain sufficient.

“All our LPG distributorships will function as usual, and we have adequate bulk LPG stocks at our bottling plants,” the OMCs said in a joint statement. “The public is advised not to panic.”

The companies explained that the transportation tender was the result of wide-ranging discussions with transporter associations across India.

“The recent transportation tender was finalised after extensive discussions with transporters from all regions, where various demands were put forth by them,” the statement noted.

“Several clarifications were issued to address their key concerns, and we have incorporated their feedback through pre-bid meetings held in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Guwahati.”

According to the OMCs, the terms of the tender were designed in compliance with various government and regulatory guidelines.

“The tender terms were prepared transparently following Government guidelines, Central Vigilance Commission norms, and mandatory safety protocols,” they said. “These clauses align with the guidelines issued by statutory bodies such as PESO, PNGRB, and OISD.”

The strike is reportedly being driven by objections to certain penalty clauses related to safety violations. In response, the OMCs stressed that the enhanced safety measures are in the interest of all parties.

“These safety-related measures will ultimately benefit all stakeholders — including tanker owners, drivers, and consumers — by ensuring a safer and more reliable LPG transportation network,” they said.

Calling for a resolution, the companies appealed to the striking transporters to return to work. “We appeal to the transporters to call off the strike and desist from any activities that may disrupt the positioning of essential LPG supplies,” the statement said. “We are in constant dialogue with major transporters to resolve the situation at the earliest.”

“As responsible Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies, we remain committed to maintaining a steady supply of domestic and commercial LPG to meet the needs of all consumers,” the statement concluded. “We assure our valued customers that all measures are in place to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply.”

The statement was issued on behalf of the State Level Coordinators for the Oil Industry in Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.