Kolkata, Apr 20: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is strengthening access to clean cooking fuel through its Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinder initiative, enabling greater flexibility and affordability for migrant workers, small businesses, and low-income households across India.
Between April 1 and April 17, 2026, HPCL supplied over 4.65 lakh 5 Kg Free Trade LPG cylinders and more than 22,700 2 Kg cylinders, highlighting growing demand for smaller, more accessible energy solutions in urban and semi-urban markets.
Unlike conventional LPG connections, Free Trade LPG cylinders are designed for portability, lower upfront costs, and flexible usage. For migrant families, street vendors, and small eateries, these cylinders provide a practical alternative ensuring access to clean energy without long-term commitments or infrastructure constraints.
The initiative is backed by HPCL’s extensive distribution network, which delivered over 215 lakh LPG cylinders nationwide during the same period, ensuring consistent supply across segments even as demand rises.
HPCL’s digital-first approach is further enhancing accessibility, with 99.3% of LPG bookings now made through digital platforms. This enables consumers to easily book cylinders, track deliveries, and receive timely service, bringing greater convenience and transparency to traditionally underserved segments.
For micro-entrepreneurs, particularly in the food service sector, the availability of 5 Kg and 2 Kg cylinders ensures uninterrupted operations while supporting the transition to cleaner fuels.
Supporting this initiative is a robust supply chain, with over 1,32,071 fuel tankers dispatched between April 1 and April 17, 2026, ensuring continuous replenishment across distribution points nationwide.
HPCL has also reinforced its commitment to maintaining supply integrity. Between March 14 and April 17, 2026, the company conducted 5,400 inspections, took action against 131 distributors (including 32 suspensions), carried out 661 raids, registered 41 FIRs, and seized 3,674 LPG cylinders to curb malpractices and ensure cylinders reach genuine consumers.
The company emphasised that LPG supply across its network remains stable and adequate, with the Free Trade LPG initiative playing a crucial role in expanding access and meeting diverse consumer needs.
As India’s workforce becomes increasingly mobile and urban consumption patterns evolve, HPCL’s Free Trade LPG cylinders are emerging as a key enabler of inclusive energy access delivering flexibility, affordability, and reliability where it matters most.
