AIM seeks priority LPG allocation for newspaper, magazine printing

The Association of Indian Magazines (AIM) has written to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, seeking priority allocation of fuel for newspaper and magazine printing under the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026. In its representation, AIM said the supply crunch, aggravated by the West Asia conflict, is threatening the timely production of periodicals and supplements, and urged the government to classify print media as a priority sector with assured minimum LPG availability.

Excerpts from the representation:

As you are aware, the ongoing West Asia conflict has severely disrupted LPG availability for the printing industry. Magazine printing is mostly done on web offset printing machines (largely of German origin), which are specifically designed to operate on LPG. There is no viable alternative fuel available for these machines, making uninterrupted LPG supply absolutely critical for continuity of operations. Even many of the glossy newspaper supplements are printed on such machines. Without it, time-bound weekly and monthly publications cannot be printed, depriving millions of readers — especially in regional language markets with limited digital access — of timely information.

We therefore request your support in facilitating uninterrupted supply of LPG for the purpose of magazine printing as magazines and newspapers have historically always been treated as ‘essential services’ by the Government of India

During the COVID-19 national lockdown (March 2020), the Ministry of Home Affairs explicitly categorized newspapers and print media among essential services exempted from all restrictions under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 — the only non-utility sector to receive this recognition.

We humbly request that the same logic applies with equal force today.

The Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026 (Gazette Notification, 9–10 March 2026) has established a commendable priority framework. However, newspaper and magazine printing is not specifically named — it currently falls within the residual general industrial consumer category. Given the public interest role of print media, we urge that it be specifically enumerated as a priority sector, with an assured minimum allocation of 80% of the past six-month average consumption, at parity with tea and other manufacturing industries under the existing framework.

We humbly request the Ministry to:

1. Specifically include LPG supply for newspaper and magazine printing in the priority allocation framework under the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order, 2026, with a guaranteed minimum of 80% of average consumption;
2. Direct IOC, BPCL, and HPCL to create an expedited supply window for registered printing presses.
3. We also request an early audience before the High-Level LPG Committee to present detailed supply data from our members.

We also request a meeting with you and of a delegation from AIM, to present our concerns in person.