New Delhi: The Indian government has firmly dismissed any possibility of imposing restrictions on the sale of petrol and diesel, stressing that there is no shortage of oil or gas in the country and that refiners are actively securing additional imports to maintain steady supplies.
Describing India as an “oasis of energy security” that exports refined fuel to more than 150 countries, officials underlined that domestic availability of petrol and diesel remains structurally assured. All one lakh-plus retail fuel outlets across the nation are operating normally and dispensing fuel without any interruption. No outlet has been directed to ration supplies, the government said.
“India’s petroleum and LPG supply situation is fully secure and under control. There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG anywhere in the country,” the petroleum ministry stated on Thursday.
The reassurance comes against the backdrop of global measures to limit fuel consumption and speculation that India might follow similar steps. Recent reports of shortages and rumours of a possible lockdown had triggered panic buying and queues at some filling stations. However, the ministry described these as isolated incidents sparked by “deliberate misinformation.”
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To reduce dependence on imports — particularly from West Asia — the government has put in place alternative arrangements. India relies on imports for nearly 90 per cent of its crude oil, 60 per cent of LPG, and over half of its natural gas requirements. While the country maintains a reserve capacity of 74 days, current availability stands at around 60 days.
“Nearly two months of steady supply is available for every Indian citizen, regardless of what happens globally. The next two months of crude procurement have also been secured,” the ministry added. Oil companies have additionally extended credit to petrol pumps from one day to three days to avoid any operational disruptions.
India has diversified its crude oil sourcing to 41 countries, with increased volumes from the western hemisphere helping to offset potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Domestic LPG production has been scaled up by 40 per cent to 50,000 tonnes per day, covering about 60 per cent of demand, while 800,000 tonnes of LPG cargoes are already on their way. Over 50 lakh LPG cylinders continue to be distributed daily.
The government also noted that efforts to convert LPG connections to piped natural gas (PNG) form part of a longer-term strategy to promote cheaper and more efficient fuel options, and these measures were initiated well before the present situation.