SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir currently has a combined LPG bottling capacity of 185 thousand metric tonnes per annum (TMTPA) operated by public sector oil marketing companies, the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday, underscoring that the Union Territory is considered adequately served under the national LPG supply network.
According to official data placed before Parliament, the LPG bottling capacity in Jammu and Kashmir comprises 65 TMTPA operated by Indian Oil Corporation Limited and 120 TMTPA by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, while Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited does not have bottling capacity in the UT. The government said that most bottling plants across the country, including those serving Jammu and Kashmir, operate in single or double shifts, leaving scope for further enhancement in output by increasing shifts rather than creating new infrastructure.
At the national level, public sector oil marketing companies together have an LPG bottling capacity of 23.1 million metric tonnes per annum as of December 1, 2025. Over the last ten years, these companies have commissioned 28 new LPG bottling plants, adding 9,079 TMTPA to the country’s capacity. Indian Oil accounted for 11 of these plants, Hindustan Petroleum for 10, and Bharat Petroleum for seven, reflecting a steady expansion to keep pace with rising household LPG demand.
The government told the House that there are no ongoing or planned LPG bottling plant expansion projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Current capacity additions under way elsewhere in the country, amounting to 800 TMTPA, are focused on new plants and capacity augmentation in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram. These projects are scheduled for completion between 2026 and 2027.
In contrast, Madhya Pradesh, cited specifically in the question, has a total LPG bottling capacity of 960 TMTPA. Bottling plants supplying LPG cylinders to Dewas and Shajapur districts include facilities at Ujjain, Pitampura, Bakina and Indore, operated by Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum. Rajasthan, meanwhile, has 1,170 TMTPA of LPG bottling capacity, though the Centre clarified that there are no plans to set up new LPG bottling plants in Jalore or Sirohi districts, with existing demand being met through plants located in Jodhpur, Sanand, Udaipur and Pindwara.
On the logistics front, the Ministry highlighted a significant national shift towards pipeline-based LPG transportation. Over the past decade, LPG movement through pipelines by public sector oil companies has increased from 5,159 thousand metric tonnes in 2014 to 14,165 thousand metric tonnes in 2025, reducing dependence on road tankers and improving safety and efficiency. Details of operational and under-construction LPG pipelines were shared separately with Parliament.
Addressing concerns over supply security, the government said oil marketing companies have substantially expanded LPG import and storage infrastructure over the last ten years to guard against global disruptions. While no specific strategic LPG reserve was announced for Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry noted that assessment of new storage sites is a continuous process, guided by technical and commercial feasibility.
The data suggests that while Jammu and Kashmir’s LPG bottling capacity is modest compared to large states such as Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the Centre considers existing infrastructure sufficient to meet current demand. However, the absence of new bottling projects or storage facilities in the UT raises questions about long-term capacity planning in a region where geography and weather often complicate fuel supply chains.
