Diesel price hike adds fuel to LPG crisis fire, threatens to shut 35% of Ludhiana factories A sharp rise in industrial diesel prices has intensified the ongoing LPG crisis in Ludhiana, raising fears of widespread factory closures. Industrial diesel prices surged by ₹22, reaching ₹109 per litre this week, exacerbating an already dire situation marked by severe LPG shortages. Business leaders have warned that the price gap between bulk industrial fuel and retail diesel will force factories to refuel at public petrol stations to cut costs, potentially disrupting regular consumer services and straining fuel station infrastructure. The crisis has left thousands of factories in Punjab struggling to maintain operations as the financial year-end approaches. Harsimerjit Singh Lucky, president of the United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers Association, stated that at least 30 to 35% of units no longer have the energy to function, with large-scale industries on the brink of closure. The situation is described as worsening daily, with the heat-treatment and induction furnace sectors particularly hard-hit due to their reliance on furnace oil and LPG. KK Garg, president of the Induction Furnace Association of North India, highlighted that the shortage of all fuel types has brought the sector to a standstill. "With deadlines looming, it has become impossible to complete dispatches," he said, adding that the crisis is not just industrial but also inflationary, set to increase transportation and production costs across the board. Gurmeet Singh Kular, president of the Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisations (Fico), called the current climate an "emergency," questioning how workers will survive if the region’s industrial engine stops.#ludhiana #united_cycle_and_parts_manufacturers_association #induction_furnace_association_of_north_india #world_msme_forum
