India’s LPG connections more than double, sparking debate on energy access

In India, the number of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections has significantly increased, rising from 14.52 crore in 2014 to 32.83 crore by 2024, marking an over 100% growth. This substantial rise is attributed to the government's focus on improving energy access, efficiency, and sustainability. A key initiative contributing to this expansion is the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which alone has provided 10.33 crore LPG connections to households identified as economically weaker. This program has enabled these families to obtain cooking gas at subsidized prices, thus making it more accessible. Since the onset of PMUY, around 222 crore LPG refills have been delivered to participating households, with an average of 1.3 million refills consumed daily, showcasing the program's efficacy in enhancing household energy use. Furthermore, there has been an increase in the average per capita LPG consumption among Ujjwala beneficiaries, escalating from 3.01 cylinders in 2019-20 to an anticipated 4.34 cylinders for the current year based on pro-rata calculations until October 2024. This rise in consumption indicates not only a growing dependence on LPG as a cooking fuel but also a successful shift away from traditional biomass fuels. The government has also encouraged Ujjwala beneficiaries to voluntarily relinquish their subsidies through the “GiveItUp” campaign, with over 1.14 crore individuals participating. Alongside the growth in LPG connections, the number of LPG distributors has experienced significant growth, increasing from 13,896 in 2014 to 25,532 in 2024. Notably, over 90% of these new distributors operate within rural areas, thereby improving access to clean cooking fuel for underserved communities. Additionally, India's natural gas infrastructure has expanded, with operational pipeline length rising from 15,340 km in 2014 to 24,945 km in 2024, with further developments underway. This expansion lays the groundwork for a national gas grid, aimed at enhancing energy distribution. Moreover, the government has made strides in the biofuels sector, prominently through the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme. This initiative has resulted in a dramatic increase in ethanol supplies from 38 crore liters in 2013-14 to 707.40 crore liters in 2023-24, achieving a petrol blending rate of 16.23% as of December 2024. Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are dispensing E20 petrol—comprising 20% ethanol—at over 17,400 retail locations nationwide, which has significantly contributed to environmental benefits by saving substantial foreign exchange and reducing carbon emissions. In terms of exploration and production, the Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP) has led to the allocation of 144 blocks for oil and gas exploration. The production of gas has also increased from 34.45 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) in fiscal year 2022-23 to 36.44 BCM in FY 2023-24, showcasing advancements in indigenous energy production. The overall progress the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is aiming for is to continue enhancing India’s energy security while promoting cleaner and sustainable energy sources across the country.