The supply of LPG gas in India has been impacted by geopolitical tensions, especially the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the supply chain has faced disruptions. This has led to delays in LPG bookings and deliveries in many places. However, recently, two ships, ‘Shivalik’ and ‘Nanda Devi,’ carrying 92,700 tons of LPG, managed to pass through the Strait and reach India, ensuring a steady supply for the next couple of days.
The Journey of LPG from Ships to Your Kitchen
LPG forms mainly as a by-product during refining crude oil and natural gas. It is a mixture of propane and butane gases, which liquefy under high pressure and store in cylinders. To transport it, LPG cools to very low temperatures and loads onto large gas carriers.
These ships then bring the gas to Indian coastal terminals such as Dahej in Gujarat, Mangalore in Karnataka, or Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
From Port to Cold Storage
At the port, LPG remains in liquid form at a temperature of -42°C. Workers unload it from the ship and store it in massive cold storage tanks. The gas then transfers via pipelines to various bottling plants across the country.
At the plants, the workers carefully check and fill the gas into empty cylinders. They add the correct amount of gas, typically 14.2 kg, to each cylinder.
Ensuring Safety During Transport
Since LPG remains odorless, workers add Mercaptan, a chemical, to make leaks easily detectable. After filling, workers load the cylinders onto trucks, which transport them to local warehouses. Once at the warehouse, delivery personnel transport the cylinders to customers’ homes, completing the process.
