Oil firms asked to issue 55 million new LPG connections by 2015: minister

The government has directed oil marketing companies (OMCs) to prepare an year-wise as well as state-wise road map for increasing the pace of new LPG connections by releasing 55 million new connections by the year 2015, minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Jitin Prasada said today.

This will enhance the population coverage from about 50 per cent at present to 75 per cent in line with the `Vision 2015' finalised by the petroleum ministry recently, Prasada said.

He said the focus would be on states that have very low LPG coverage. The emphasis would be on taking LPG to rural areas of the country, he added.

Prasada gave these instructions at a meeting with marketing directors of all the three Mocks  - Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bart Petroleum Corporation Limited. S Sundareshan, additional secretary and Apurva Chandra, joint secretary (marketing) at the petroleum ministry were also present.

The petroleum secretary also expressed concern over issues like customer satisfaction and service delivery of petroleum products and directed that the focus has to be on prompt delivery of LPG refills and issuing of new LPG connections as per the stated policy of the ministry and the OMCs.