India’s shift towards cleaner cooking fuel is gaining powerful momentum, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) is ensuring the infrastructure keeps pace. In response to soaring demand—especially from households empowered by the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)—BPCL has unveiled a strategic 10-year, ₹4,600 crore expansion plan for its LPG business. This massive investment is a direct answer to the millions of new connections and the rising usage per household across the country.
The numbers tell a compelling story. In FY25, PMUY beneficiaries consumed a record 4.47 cylinders per year on average, while non-PMUY consumption rose to 6.64 cylinders. Overall, public sector oil companies sold over 31.2 million tonnes of LPG, growing more than 5% year-on-year. BPCL itself achieved its highest-ever packed LPG sales and market share, solidifying its leadership in the domestic LPG segment.
Building the Backbone: Securing Supply for Millions
To guarantee that no stove runs dry, BPCL is strategically bolstering every link in its supply chain. The cornerstone of this plan is major infrastructure augmentation:
- Doubling Import Capacity: A key ₹1,800 crore project at the JNPT Uran import facility will double storage capacity to 60,000 tonnes by 2026, ensuring a steady flow of LPG to meet rising demand.
- Creating Massive Storage Networks: The company will add 22,000 tonnes of new storage and construct a vast 95,000-tonne cavern storage facility along pipeline routes. An additional 80,000-tonne import terminal is also planned on the coast. This web of storage acts as a national energy reserve, smoothing out supply fluctuations.
- Expanding Last-Mile Reach: To bottle and deliver this fuel, BPCL will set up new bottling plants with 9,000 tonnes of storage, complementing its existing network of 56 plants and over 6,250 distributors.
Beyond Infrastructure: Innovation for Efficiency and Sustainability
BPCL’s vision extends beyond just scaling up volume. It is also pioneering innovations to make LPG usage more efficient and environmentally friendly. A standout initiative is the launch of the ‘Bharat Hi-Star’ LPG stove, which boasts a thermal efficiency of over 74%. If adopted widely, this stove alone could save 1.7 million tonnes of LPG annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a significant 5 million tonnes—marrying household savings with national climate goals.
A Decade of Preparedness
This decade-long blueprint is more than a corporate growth strategy; it’s a critical enabler of India’s energy security and social welfare goals. By investing ahead of the curve, BPCL is ensuring that the gains made in clean cooking access are sustained and that the system is robust enough to support continued growth. As India’s kitchens continue to transition away from traditional fuels, BPCL is building the resilient and efficient energy highway needed to power them for the future.
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