RAI says that a prolonged disruption in LPG supply could lead to the temporary closure of restaurants and commercial kitchens
The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has urged the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and leading oil marketing companies to ensure an uninterrupted supply of commercial LPG cylinders to restaurants and food service establishments across the country.
Recent communications from oil marketing companies, including Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum, indicate that LPG supplies are currently being prioritised for domestic consumers due to ongoing geopolitical disruptions affecting global fuel supply, the industry body said.
“A prolonged disruption in LPG supply to restaurants and commercial kitchens could lead to the non-availability of food for millions of citizens who rely on these establishments for their daily meals, including students in hostels, individuals without adequate housing, and busy working professionals. Restaurants and food service businesses are integral to India’s daily food supply chain. Ensuring continuity of LPG supply will help maintain food availability while safeguarding livelihoods across the sector,” stated Kumar Rajagopalan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), RAI.
While the industry fully supports the government’s efforts to safeguard household energy security, the current restrictions have created serious operational challenges for restaurants and commercial kitchens that depend heavily on LPG for cooking operations, RAI added.
RAI pointed out that a prolonged disruption in LPG supply to the food service sector could lead to temporary closure of restaurants and commercial kitchens, disruption of food supply to hospitals, institutions, and workplaces, loss of employment across the hospitality and retail ecosystem and operational challenges for small and medium food businesses.
The association has also proposed establishing a structured coordination mechanism between industry bodies and oil marketing companies to address supply challenges during this period of global fuel disruption.
