The encouraging response for 5kg LPG cylinders has prompted Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd to look at introducing 3kg and 2kg cylinders in the market.

George Paul, Executive Director (LPG), BPCL, said that a move in this regard was taken following the good customer feedback received by the company after launching the 5 kg cylinder in various cities including the metros. There was an encouraging response from an emerging segment of new consumers like IT professionals and migrant population who want LPG but in absence of proper proof of address cannot access the same.

Speaking to Business Line on the sidelines of launching 5 kg LPG cylinders in Kerala here on Thursday, he pointed out that the company is not looking at volume of business from small LPG cylinders but convenience and easy availability of cylinders to customers.

There are consumers who have highly irregular work timings and may not be able to visit the distributor or be at home to receive cylinders during normal working hours. For them, the need arises at odd times of the day when distributors may be closed, he said, adding that the availability of 5 kg cylinders through petrol stations has been well received by the targeted segments in metro cities.

According to Paul, the LPG consumption in India was 16 million tonnes in 2013-14. Of this, 10.5 million tonnes were indigenously produced and the remaining through imports. The average growth is in the range of 10-12 per cent.

To meet the demand, he said the company is looking at improving LPG infrastructure in the country by setting up pipelines to regulate road movements, bottling plants in areas where there were no such facilities and import facilities in ports on the west coast.

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