By Admin 
Due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the supply of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) has been badly affected and the pressure on the supply of natural gas in India is increasing. In view of this, the Government of India has issued a major order under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Under the Petroleum and Natural Gas (Furnishing of Information) Order, 2026, the Government of India has asked all the oil and natural gas companies of the country to compulsorily provide their data to the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC).
The order will be applicable from government to private companies
This means that now no company, whether government or private, can refuse to provide data to PPAC. No company can escape by saying that this information is commercially sensitive or proprietary. The government will now get complete accounts of every company.
In this, crude oil producers and importers, oil refineries, oil marketing companies, natural gas producers, LNG importers, gas pipeline operators, city gas distribution companies and petrochemical plants i.e. from public sector ONGC, GAIL, IOC, BPCL, HPCL to private sector Reliance, Adani Gas and every small and big company will come under the purview of this order.
What data will have to be given to the government?
According to the government order, companies will have to give complete information to the government about production, import, export, stock and storage, allocation, transportation, supply along with consumption and usage i.e. how much oil or gas is being produced, how much is being imported from outside, how much is being sent out, how much is kept, how much is being given to whom, from where to where, how much is reaching the market and how much is being used.
Why did the government take such a big step?
After the attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan, the global supply of LNG has been affected by 20 percent. Due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the movement of Indian oil ships has become difficult. In such a situation, it is important for the government to know what is the actual stock of oil and gas in the country? Where is there shortage and where rationing may have to be done. If PPAC gets real time data, the government will be able to take decisions in time. This means that if the gas shortage increases in the coming weeks, the government will have complete data on where to provide relief first and where to control the supply.
Also read: ‘1.25 lakh new connections of PNG in 2 weeks, 5600 customers shifted in 3 days’, government gave update on oil crisis.