Uniform Gas Pricing Agreed; Morbi Ceramic Units Eye May 1 Restart

Morbi: Ceramic units in Morbi, shut for nearly one-and-a-half months following the Centre’s decision to curb industrial gas supply amid rationing triggered by the Israel–US attacks on Iran, are likely to resume operations from May 1.

A meeting held in Gandhinagar on Thursday between office-bearers of the Morbi Ceramic Manufacturers Association and Gujarat Gas Limited Managing Director Avantika Singh Aulakh was described as positive. It was decided that natural gas would be supplied to all industries at a uniform price.

The Centre had suspended gas supply to industries across the state, including Morbi’s ceramic sector, to prioritise domestic availability amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. As a result, most ceramic units in the region remained closed for over a month.

With the situation gradually improving, gas supply has begun to resume. However, Gujarat Gas had earlier proposed differential pricing—charging higher rates to units using propane-LPG, prompting industrialists to demand concessional rates and escalate the issue to authorities in Gandhinagar and Delhi.

During Thursday’s meeting, attended by senior officials and association representatives, it was agreed to rationalise pricing and provide relief by implementing a uniform rate for all industrial consumers.

Industry leaders said they will further approach the state government, urging the Chief Minister to reduce VAT on gas to ease operational costs.

A former association president said the revised gas prices will come into effect from Friday. While units are preparing to restart operations, full-scale production may take 15–20 days to normalise, as many workers who had returned to their hometowns are yet to return. DeshGujarat