New Delhi: The government on Wednesday said there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG in the country, and urged citizens not to believe rumours circulating on social media or resort to panic buying.
LPG supplies remain affected due to the ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a media briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said all refineries are operating at high capacity with “adequate crude inventories”, while “sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained” and retail outlets are functioning normally nationwide.
“Don’t believe in rumours. We have adequate fuel stocks and the government is making all efforts to reach them to consumers,” she said.
She said “panic buying was reported in some areas due to rumours”, leading to unusually high sales and crowding at petrol pumps, even though “adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are available at all petrol pumps”.
“There are enough stock of petrol and diesel and there is no shortage of any retail outlet (petrol pump). Oil terminals also have enough stocks,” she said.
On LPG, the government said supply “continues to be affected due to the prevailing geopolitical situation”, though no dry-outs have been reported and cylinder deliveries are continuing as normal.
Additional allocations have been made to states, with commercial LPG supply now raised to 50 per cent in phases, prioritising sectors such as restaurants, hotels and community kitchens.
To ease pressure on LPG, the government is accelerating the shift to piped natural gas (PNG), with priority allocation ensuring “100 per cent supply to domestic PNG and CNG transport”, while industrial and commercial users are receiving around 80 per cent of their usual supply.
City gas distribution (CGD) companies have been directed to prioritise PNG connections for households and key institutions, with incentives being offered for both domestic and commercial users. The government has also asked states to fast-track approvals for pipeline expansion and simplify right-of-way permissions.
Sharma said in the last 25 days 2.5 lakh new PNG connections have been issued and 2.20 lakh LPG consumers have shifted to PNG.
Additional measures include higher domestic LPG production, extra kerosene allocation of 48,000 kilolitres to states, and promotion of alternative fuels such as PNG, electricity and coal to reduce dependence on LPG.
States have been directed to crack down on hoarding and black marketing, with over 2,700 raids conducted, around 2,000 cylinders seized, more than 650 FIRs registered and 155 arrests made so far.
Reiterating its advisory, the government said it is making “all efforts to ensure availability of petrol, diesel and LPG” and urged citizens to rely on official information, avoid panic purchases and conserve energy.
Separately, the three oil marketing companies, in social media posts, also said that there was no shortage.
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation’s largest oil firm, said, there is no shortage of petrol or diesel”, adding that its outlets are “well-stocked and fully operational”.
It cautioned that rumours “can create unnecessary concern and disrupt normal supply patterns” and urged citizens to “avoid panic buying and rely only on verified information”.
IOC chairman A S Sahney said, “We would like to assure all citizens that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel. IndianOil outlets nationwide are well-stocked and functioning normally.” “Unverified rumours can lead to unnecessary panic and supply disruptions. Please avoid panic buying and trust only official sources. Let us act responsibly and support seamless fuel availability for all,” he added.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) termed reports of fuel shortages in certain areas “completely unfounded”, asserting that “there is no shortage of fuel across the nation”.
The company said India is a net exporter of petrol and diesel and has “adequate stocks of crude oil, petrol, diesel and ATF”, with supply chains operating “smoothly without any disruption”.
It added that it remains “fully operational and committed to ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply”.
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) also said there is “no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG across the country”, with supplies remaining stable and stocks adequate.
It advised customers not to be misled by rumours or engage in panic buying, and to “continue with normal consumption patterns”, adding that it is committed to ensuring “an uninterrupted and seamless fuel supply” across its network.
While the war in West Asia has disrupted crude oil, LNG and LPG supply chains, India with its diversified sourcing has been able to secure enough supplies of crude oil (the raw material used to make fuels like petrol and diesel) from West Africa, Latin America and the US.
The disruption in liquefied natural gas (LNG) due to India’s largest supplier’s facilities in Qatar being hit by the war has led to prioritisation of the fuel to domestic users and CNG, while some curtailment has been done for industrial users like fertiliser plants.
LPG is the most impacted by the war as the country relied on imports to meet 60 per cent of its demand. A majority of it came from the Gulf countries, from where supplies have been hit. This has led to the government prioritising supplies to domestic household kitchens and curtailing usage by commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants by at least half.(PTI)
