LPG crisis in India: Appu, Mini & Chhotu rise to the occasion

Mumbai: “What’s in a name” — a famous line from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet — finds resonance in Mumbai’s unfolding LPG crisis.

Appu, Mini and Chhotu are not names but brands of mini Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders that have become critical for households and migrant workers amid a supply crunch.

As the West Asia crisis triggered LPG shortages, these five-kg cylinders have emerged as a lifeline for several households. Over the years, they have become a workhorse for the urban poor, working-class families and bachelors.

The five-kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders are also popular among youth, campers and small food businesses. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) markets them as Appu, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL or BharatGas) sells them as Mini, and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC or Indane) brands them as Chhotu.

These cylinders are available through gas distributorships, select retail outlets, kirana stores, utensil shops and other points of sale. The initial purchase requires buying the cylinder and regulator, while subsequent refills involve only the gas cost.

However, as tensions involving the United States-Israel coalition and Iran began impacting the West Asia-Gulf region, demand surged sharply, leading to acute shortages of the mini-LPG cylinders.

Across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), consumers face supply constraints, with retailers unable to indicate when stocks will be replenished.

“As soon as the crisis began, many existing users rushed for refills. Demand has spiked significantly. Migrant workers depend heavily on these cylinders,” said a manager at a Mumbai-based gas distribution agency.

“I have been using these five-kg cylinders for years due to their easy availability. They last about two weeks. Now even that is uncertain. Prices have risen from around Rs 30 per kg to Rs 80–90 per kg. We need at least two kg daily and up to three kg on weekends. It has become very expensive, and we are reluctant to raise prices or risk losing customers to online platforms,” said Suresh Pandey, who runs a chaat centre in Kandivali.

“The mini LPG cylinders are in short supply, and some are being diverted for other uses. They are portable and widely used for outdoor gatherings, picnics and small events where people bring their own cook. One cylinder can cater to 100–200 people depending on the menu. Though easy to transport, it is not officially permitted and can attract penalties,” said Raju, who runs a vada pav stall near Dahisar Checkpost.

Veteran camper Amit Samant, writer and co-founder of trekshitiz.com, said, “Click-gas is very popular among campers and trekkers. Forest authorities strictly prohibit wood fires, so these cylinders are used for boiling water, making tea or cooking basic food. While butane canisters are also used, click-gas remains more popular.”

Retailers confirm prolonged shortages. “We exhausted our stock last month. There is no clarity on fresh supplies. Customers keep coming daily to check availability,” said a utensil shop owner.

In Bhiwandi, a major powerloom and warehousing hub, the shortage has intensified. “Demand is extremely high. People are standing in queues to get cylinders,” said Ismail, a local worker.

The mini cylinders, widely known as click-gas, continue to remain indispensable for both daily use and outdoor activities, even as supply struggles to keep pace with rising demand.