New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) The government on Wednesday said that 41 biogas cylinder filling and storage plants have been granted approval, and subsequently, licenses have been issued to 14 plants.

A total of 467 applications for compressed natural gas (CNG) and compressed biogas (CBG) dispensing stations were received by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), and all were disposed of on a priority basis from March 25 to April 21.

Out of 467 cases, in 157 cases, final licenses were granted, and 38 prior approvals were granted for the construction of new CNG/CBG dispensing stations, according to the Petroleum Ministry.

The PESO has undertaken multiple facilitative and safety-oriented measures to ensure the uninterrupted availability of fuels and gas amid the ongoing crisis.

Temporary storage relaxations for Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) were granted, permitting storage up to 2,500 litres and a one-time relaxation up to 5,000 litres for PDS kerosene to ensure last-mile distribution continuity.

“To safeguard domestic availability, a complete export ban on ammonium nitrate was imposed on March 18. Guidelines permitting LNG filling in cryogenic cylinders were issued to promote decentralised LNG supply, enhancing fuel flexibility during disruptions,” said the ministry.

The PESO issued directions on March 20 for time-bound disposal of applications (within 10 days) of CNG stations and decompression units to fast-track infrastructure augmentation.

To address immediate supply constraints, permission was granted for LPG unloading at Porbandar jetty on March 14.

“For improved transparency, the list of PESO-approved container manufacturers and capacities for PDS kerosene and diesel supply was uploaded on the PESO website on 01.04.2026,” said the ministry.

Moreover, a temporary six-month exemption from approval requirements for CNG/CBG compressors was issued on April 1 to fast-track commissioning of dispensing stations.

Moreover, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is actively implementing a range of regulatory and facilitative measures to ensure continuity of industrial activities, maintain supply chain stability and support key manufacturing amidst the evolving West Asia situation.

The measures aim to ensure the uninterrupted availability of fuel and essential inputs while addressing operational challenges faced by the industry.

–IANS

na/vd