Indian gas firms restrict local supplies due to Middle East crisis
New Delhi — Several Indian companies have restricted domestic natural gas supplies, including to the fertiliser sector, after invoking force majeure clauses following disruptions to fuel shipments linked to an escalating air war involving the United States, Israel and Iran in the Middle East, industry sources and importers said on Wednesday.
The conflict has disrupted energy shipments in the region and affected India’s key supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG), Qatar, prompting supply adjustments by companies that depend on imported cargoes to meet domestic demand.
Sources familiar with the matter said lower gas availability had already marginally affected output at some fertiliser producers, including Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd and Kribhco Fertilizers Ltd. The companies did not respond to requests for comment outside normal working hours.
Gujarat Gas Ltd said in a stock exchange filing that it had declared force majeure and would restrict gas supplies to industries from Thursday. Its parent, Gujarat State Petroleum Corp (GSPC), sources much of its gas from Qatar and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co for sale to local customers.
Tanker disruptions at Ras Laffan
India’s largest gas importer, Petronet LNG Ltd, said it had issued a force majeure notice to supplier QatarEnergy and to local buyers GAIL (India) Ltd, Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum Corp after three LNG tankers were unable to reach the Ras Laffan loading port in Qatar.
Petronet said QatarEnergy had also sent a notice indicating a potential force majeure event due to the hostilities in the region.
GAIL and Indian Oil have already reduced gas supplies to industrial users, Reuters reported earlier this week.
Fertiliser sector begins to feel impact
Industry sources said the restrictions had begun to affect fertiliser manufacturers, which rely heavily on natural gas as a feedstock for ammonia and urea production.
Any sustained reduction in gas supplies could tighten fertiliser output, although the impact so far has been limited, according to the sources.
Hormuz disruption stalls shipments
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman has slowed sharply after attacks on vessels in the area during the hostilities and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes.
The narrow waterway carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil consumption as well as large volumes of LNG, making it one of the most critical maritime routes for global energy supplies.
India imported about 27 million tonnes of LNG in the 2024/25 fiscal year, accounting for roughly half of its natural gas consumption, according to government data. Qatar supplies the bulk of those imports.
Companies have not announced cuts to gas supplies for households or the automobile sector.
