LPG Prices Surge to Rs. 580 Per Kg

LPG prices in Hyderabad have skyrocketed to Rs580 per kilogram due to a shortage of natural gas, leading to households paying almost double the official rate. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has set the domestic LPG price at Rs279.34 per kilogram for the current month. However, retailers are charging anything between Rs550 and Rs580 per kilogram, making life harder for families already grappling with continuous gas outages.

The city's daily LPG demand has surpassed 50 tonnes, as more residents switch to this fuel for cooking due to unreliable supply from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). This has created a heated debate between consumers and shopkeepers over prices. Abdul Qadir, general secretary of the LPG Union Association Hyderabad, claims that OGRA-registered producers are supplying LPG to retailers at rates exceeding Rs520 per kilogram, adding transportation and other costs to the final price.

Qadir further alleges that the association has repeatedly complained to OGRA and registered LPG companies, yet prices remain unchanged. Approximately 250 shops in Hyderabad district sell LPG, which is now widely used by households, rickshaws, mini-taxis, Suzuki vehicles, hotels, restaurants, and tea stalls. This price surge has also driven up food prices.

SSGC's gas supply schedule worsens the situation, with domestic consumers receiving gas for just three hours at a time, thrice a day, causing disruptions in daily routines. In a separate incident, women residents of Amani Shah Colony in Latifabad protested against prolonged gas shortages outside the Khuda Hafiz Board Chari, disrupting traffic and shouting slogans against SSGC management.