Ri-Bhoi LPG plant to open by Q3
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 29: Seeking to quell rumours of a fuel crunch, Meghalaya’s oil officials on Wednesday declared a 25-day petrol cushion for the state, while revealing that the long-awaited Ri-Bhoi LPG bottling plant is set to begin operations by the third quarter of this year.
Sashwati Mudoi, State Level Coordinator for Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in Meghalaya, stated that the availability of LPG, petrol, and diesel remains stable. Currently, the state holds sufficient stock to meet 25 days of petrol demand and 46 days of diesel demand. These stocks are distributed across 334 retail outlets, including 205 operated by IndianOil, 43 by Bharat Petroleum, 72 by Hindustan Petroleum, and 14 private stations.
Despite assurances of stability, officials confirmed that commercial LPG allocation is currently restricted to 70% of total requirement, following central government guidelines.
Priority for these supplies is being directed toward essential sectors, including hospitals, educational institutions, defense establishments, and government offices.
Regarding domestic LPG, approximately 3.7 lakh consumers are served by 66 distributors. While daily deliveries average 4,103 refills, a five-day backlog currently exists, which officials claim is being cleared according to booking schedules. Digital adoption for LPG has risen to 83%, up from 68% two months ago, while Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) compliance has reached 67% to prevent illegal diversion.
The LPG infrastructure is expected to receive a significant boost with the completion of the bottling plant near Umiam Lake in Ri-Bhoi. The Rs 75-crore project, which will have an annual capacity of 30,000 MT, is slated for commissioning by the third quarter of this year.
Amarjyoti Bordoloi, Chief General Manager of the IndianOil AOD State Office, noted that the Northeast produces approximately 60-70% of its LPG requirement locally, with refineries producing up to 1,500 metric tonnes against a regional demand of 2,700 metric tonnes. He added that enforcement measures under the Essential Commodities Act are active to prevent hoarding.
On the transition to alternative fuels, Bordoloi confirmed that Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL) has begun initial surveys to expand the Piped Natural Gas (PNG) network into Meghalaya, including Shillong. Once commissioned, the network is intended to reduce urban dependence on LPG cylinders. Additionally, 52 retail outlets in the state now offer Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which covers 1.7 lakh beneficiaries in the state, distributors are currently conducting door-to-door campaigns to complete eKYC requirements for seamless digital bookings.
