Software update for LPG agencies signals intent as e-KYC deadline extended to Sept 7

A software update for cooking gas agencies on non-eKYC stocks and a communication late evening pushing back the August 31 deadline till September 7 for LPG households to complete biometric authentication provided clarity on the road ahead for the users.

“Our software has been updated to indent non-eKYC stocks,” Telangana LPG Distributors Association president Jagan Mohan Reddy said, adding it signals oil marketing companies are gearing up. It could be an enabling feature in the event of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issuing fresh advisory on dealing with connections for which eKYC has not been completed.

Confirming the software patch, a senior official in an OMC said the distributorships of all three companies would be receiving the updates. There, however, has been no instructions yet from the Ministry on the price at which refills will be supplied to households not completing eKYC or the Aadhaar based biometric authentication. This despite the oil companies urging domestic LPG consumers to complete the process to continue receiving the refills at domestic rate.

Towards evening a distributor in Chennai said Indian Oil Corporation has sent a communication stating the eKYC deadline is being extending till September 7.

It is a continuing process and on for some months now, the official said, clarifying that even after the deadline consumers can complete the eKYC. In the event of a differential pricing coming into force they will, however, not been able to draw the refill at domestic rate. Once authenticated, the supply at domestic rate will resume.

About 86% of the 1.26 crore domestic LPG users have completed the eKYC, the official said, adding that many of those not coming forward are possibly having multiple connections which is not permitted.

But the software update is not the only aspect providing insights on the intent of the government, as it gets down to ensure domestic refills reach only the intended users, as Mr.Reddy said, a provision to block customers has also been enabled for the distributors.