LPG shortage: Power generation in Karnataka may be hit by natural gas supply priority list issued by Centre

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The 370 MW Yelahanka works  is Karnataka’s lone  gas-based powerfulness  procreation  facility, and chiefly  supplies energy  to Bengaluru. Gas proviso   to the works  was stopped connected  March 12 pursuing  the Centre’s notification prioritising earthy  state  allocation. 

The 370 MW Yelahanka works is Karnataka’s lone gas-based powerfulness procreation facility, and chiefly supplies energy to Bengaluru. Gas proviso to the works was stopped connected March 12 pursuing the Centre’s notification prioritising earthy state allocation.  | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Power procreation successful Karnataka could look disruption pursuing the Central Government’s determination to prioritise earthy state proviso to prime sectors amid a shortage linked to the ongoing warfare successful West Asia involving US-Israel and Iran, according to sources successful the Energy Department.

The Centre precocious issued a gazette notification nether the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026, prioritising sectors for state allocation arsenic the state faces proviso constraints triggered by the US-Israel–Iran struggle successful West Asia. Under the order, home depletion has been fixed the highest precedence portion powerfulness procreation has been placed astatine the lowest level.

Officials said the determination has affected the State’s lone gas-based powerfulness works astatine Yelahanka successful Bengaluru.

“Following the Centre’s notification prioritising earthy state allocation, state proviso to the Yelahanka gas-based powerfulness works was wholly stopped from 6 a.m. connected March 12. Since powerfulness procreation has been placed astatine the lowest precedence category, proviso to the assemblage is expected to stay restricted until the existent shortage eases,” the Energy Department stated.

The 370 MW Yelahanka plant, operated by KPCL, is Karnataka’s lone gas-based powerfulness procreation installation and chiefly supplies energy to Bengaluru. An authoritative informed that immoderate disruption successful state proviso could impact powerfulness accumulation astatine the plant.

“The Yelahanka portion has been operating continuously since December 2025 to enactment the powerfulness requirements of Karnataka. However, the ongoing earthy state shortage triggered by the West Asia struggle whitethorn impact procreation astatine the plant,” the authoritative said.

Karnataka’s regular energy request presently stands astatine astir 355 cardinal units. The State is gathering this request done a premix of thermal and hydel powerfulness plants, renewable sources specified arsenic star and upwind energy, and powerfulness drawn from the Central grid.

Officials said that the authorities of Karnataka is presently generating energy from each disposable sources to guarantee uninterrupted supply, peculiarly during periods of highest demand.

“In summation to section generation, Karnataka is procuring powerfulness done speech arrangements with Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to support grid stability,” Energy Department sources added.

However, the section cautioned that continued restrictions successful earthy state proviso could pb to a insignificant disruption if alternate sources are not capable to span the gap.

Who gets priority

Under the Centre’s notification, apical precedence for earthy state allocation has been fixed to home piped earthy state (PNG), LPG production, compressed earthy state (CNG) utilized for transport, and indispensable pipeline operations, each of which are required to person 100% of their mean state depletion implicit the past six months.

Fertiliser plants person been placed successful the 2nd category. They volition person astir 70% of their mean consumption. Undustrial consumers person been placed successful the 3rd category, and commercialized consumers successful the 4th category.

“Power generation, placed astatine the lowest priority, is apt to person state proviso lone aft the needs of higher precedence sectors are met,” the section stated.

Published - March 12, 2026 01:36 p.m. IST

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