Neither Indane nor HP—no one is issuing new gas connections; what options remain?

Whether it is Indane, HP, or Bharat Gas, all state-owned oil marketing companies have suspended the issuance of new LPG connections. This raises the question: what better alternatives remain for the kitchen?

Amidst rising tensions between the US and Iran, oil marketing companies (OMCs) made a major decision in the first quarter of 2026 to halt new LPG gas cylinder connections. Although nearly seven months have passed since the conflict between the two nations began, uncertainty regarding energy supplies via the Strait of Hormuz persists.

Consequently, a large number of people across the country are currently unable to apply for the standard 14.2 kg domestic gas cylinder. This leads to the question: when will applications for new LPG connections resume? In the meantime, what other cooking options are available for the kitchen?

Rising LPG Production in the Country

According to reports, the issuance of new LPG connections for 14.2 kg domestic cylinders has been suspended since March 2026 in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The conflict that erupted in West Asia in late February has severely impacted global oil and gas supplies; notably, 20% of the world’s energy transportation relies on this specific shipping route.

However, there is a silver lining: efforts are being made to boost domestic LPG production. Recent reports indicate that Indian refiners are ramping up output. Production has reached an average of 44,000 tonnes per day—an increase of approximately 20% over the average production recorded in August.

When Will New Connections Resume?

For now, people are eagerly awaiting the resumption of new LPG connections. However, the government has not yet released any official information regarding this matter. Nevertheless, you still have options available that allow you to cook with ease. These include 5 kg and 10 kg LPG cylinders as well as PNG.

The 5 kg ‘Chhotu’ Cylinder

You can easily find the 5 kg ‘Chhotu’ cooking gas cylinder in the market. You can purchase it from any LPG distributor under brand names like Indane Chhotu, Bharat Gas Mini, or HP Gas Appu. There is no requirement for an Aadhaar card, PAN card, or a security deposit. Nor is there any hassle regarding proof of address or lengthy application processes. Most importantly, the 5 kg Free-Trade LPG (FTL) cylinder can be refilled as many times as you wish in a year, and the refilling process takes less than 10 minutes.

The 10 kg Cylinder

Government-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) have also promoted 10 kg gas cylinders through quick-service platforms like Swiggy Instamart. IndianOil has launched ‘Indane XTRALITE,’ which is up to 50% lighter than traditional iron cylinders. Its body is transparent because it is made of fiberglass composite material (HDPE). The initial cost for a new connection of this 10 kg IndianOil composite cylinder is ₹4,853, and refilling costs ₹1,667.

PNG

Another excellent option for kitchen cooking is Piped Natural Gas (PNG), which is currently being heavily promoted by the government. Applying for it is also easy; you can apply for a new PNG connection by visiting the websites of IndianOil, HPCL, or BPCL. You can also easily switch from LPG to PNG. For this, you simply need to contact your distributor.