Ujjwala scheme boosts LPG use in Andaman & Nicobar

Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair): Consumption of petroleum products, especially diesel and cooking gas in Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Islands, has jumped in the recent years aided by Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, senior officials said.

Daily sales of domestic liquified petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders has nearly doubled to 62.8 lakh from 32.7 lakh in 2014, said K K Mishra, Chief General Manager (LPG-Sales), Marketing Head Office, Indian Oil Corporation.

LPG coverage in the union territory region increased from 55.9% in 2014 to 107.3% in 2025. “We have reached saturation. Now some people have more than one connection,” Mishra said.

The cooking gas coverage as well as consumption has jumped sharply in the last five years led by Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

Per capita consumption of LPG in Andaman & Nicobar Islands under Ujjwala category rose to 6.06 refills per annum in 2024-25 from 3.85 refills per annum in 2019-20.

Consumption of LPG and diesel in Andaman & Nicobar Islands is substantially higher than the national average. Per capita consumption for Ujjwala beneficiaries in Andaman & Nicobar Islands in 2024-25 stood at 6.06 refills while the national average was 4.47.

“There are around 14,000 Ujjwala connections in Andaman & Nicobar Islands,” said Krishna Mohan Thakur, Chief General Manager (LPG), West Bengal state office, Indian Oil Corporation. Thakur heads Indian Oil’s LPG operations in West Bengal, Sikkim and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The number of total domestic LPG consumers in Andaman & Nicobar Islands at around 1.29 lakh. Indian Oil Corporation Limited is the sole supplier of petroleum products including, LPG, petrol and diesel, in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Interestingly, diesel-based generators are the primary source of electricity in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which has a population of around 4.34 lakh, as per official estimate. The union territory comprises of 836 islands, out of which 31 are inhabited.

The islands are attractive tourist destinations with annual visitors of over 7 lakh.

Thakur claimed that Indian Oil has ensured uninterrupted availability and supplies of LPG, petrol and diesel in Andaman & Nicobar Islands despite immense logistical challenges.