New Delhi, March 6 -- Facing supply disruption from West Asia, the Indian government has directed all state-run and private-sector refineries in the country to step up production of domestic cooking gas by diverting feedstock away from the manufacturing of non-essential products, including petrochemicals.

Using its powers under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the ministry has directed all refiners to supply LPG to the three state-owned refiners - Indian Oil Corp Ltd, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd - which will in turn supply it only to domestic consumers of cooking gas.

The development is significant as India has only about 25 days of LPG stock. Annual demand stands at 33.15 million tonnes, with imports ser...