War threatens food businesses in Kolkata as Centre suspends commercial LPG supply

KOLKATA: The conflict in West Asia is threatening to torpedo restaurants and bakeries in Kolkata. Businesses requiring LPG to operate scrambled for cover on Monday after the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas suspended the distribution of non-domestic LPG cylinders. Sources in hospitality and food industries said a disruption is imminent if commercial LPG supply stops.

In a communique sent to oil marketing companies that supply LPG, the ministry directed an immediate halt to distribution of non-domestic non-exempted (NDNE) LPG cylinders until further notice. Commercial LPG supply to hospitals will continue.


“In view of the worsening war situation and the resulting disruption in imports, it was decided that no dispatches of NDNE... shall be effected until further notice,” the ministry said in its letter.

LPG dealers’ spokesperson Bijon Bihari Biswas said, “While LPG supply for households and essential services will continue, commercial supply has been temporarily suspended.” Oil companies like IOC, BPCL and HPCL have been asked to personally inform key customers about the situation and assure them that supplies will resume as soon as import channels stabilise.

The decision comes amid fears of disruptions in LPG shipments from West Asia, which accounts for 85-90% of India’s LPG imports. With the conflict threatening shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, authorities have begun prioritising domestic consumption.

The suspension of commercial LPG supply is expected to hit restaurants, hotels, catering and bakery businesses, and small industries, which rely heavily on 19-kg and 47.5-kg commercial cylinders.

Hospitality sector representatives said the sudden restriction could create serious operational challenges. Kamal Raza, general manager (development), The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, said hotels had begun implementing conservation measures. “We were advised to manage with restricted supply of LPG cylinders. We are taking all measures to ensure minimisation in LPG usage,” Raza said.

Restaurant chains are assessing their inventories. Anjan Chatterjee, chairman of Speciality Restaurants Ltd, which operates brands such as Mainland China, Oh! Calcutta and Café Mezzuna, said the group is rationing its stock. “We have been informed by the authorities about the scarcity of LPG in the coming days. We reviewed the situation and are ensuring control measures. We have stock for a few days and hope the crisis is resolved at the earliest,” he said.

Industry bodies urged the govt to ensure a limited but continuous supply for commercial users. Sudesh Poddar, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India, said, “We came to understand that the govt has stopped refilling non-domestic cylinders, which could create a crisis of gas supply in the hospitality industry. We request the govt not to completely stop refilling commercial LPG but to supply it in a rational manner. Otherwise, the hospitality industry and tourism will face a difficult time,” Poddar said.

Early signs of disruption are already visible. Industry sources said production at a factory of a leading biscuit manufacturer was curtailed from Monday amid concerns over fuel availability.

Officials in oil marketing companies said the restrictions are temporary and they are aiming to manage supply till the import situation stabilises. However, with the West Asia conflict showing no immediate signs of easing, businesses across the food sector are bracing for a challenging period.