Oil major plans tie-ups with major retailers to market Free Trade LPG cylinders
Do not be surprised if you find mini LPG cylinders
sharing shelf space with the FMCG goods soon. The Indian Oil Corporation
plans to market it’s the five-kg cylinders through retail outlets.
“Talks
are on between IOC and major retail stores and branded supermarkets
across India to make available the Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinder,” an
official connected with the developments told The Hindu .
The
Petroleum & Natural Gas Ministry had permitted the sale of the 5 kg
FTL cylinder since October 2013 through outlets like petrol pumps,
normal distributors and kirana stores. The main objective was to
make available this environment-friendly fuel to a wider cross section
of society, who struggle to get the normal domestic cylinders. Lack of
visibility of the product was the main reason behind the lukewarm
response
The target groups include the rural
households, the street-corner tea shops and the IT and BPO sector
employees in the urban areas whose irregular hours, inability to give
address proofs and do paperwork, become a barrier to accessing the usual
LPG cylinders. Presently, prices of these cylinders are around Rs. 335.
Maiden tie-up with private sector
Meanwhile, IOC also has signed on another private sector company –
Sahaj e-Village Ltd through the Common Service centres of Sahaj for
reaching these cylinders to rural areas in Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Tamil
Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
The consumers
can get a gas cylinder at their convenience. There is no need to get a
regular connection or go through paper work or any residency proof. They
can also make a one-time purchase of the domestic pressure regulator
with only a proof of identity.
