New Delhi : Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Puri, on Friday clarified that the rumours of a Covid-19-like nationwide lockdown are completely false. Rumours of a lockdown in India are completely false. Let me state this clearly, there is no such proposal under consideration by the Government of India.
The rumours of a possible nationwide lockdown arose amid panic buying at several petrol pumps and a shortage in the supply of LPG cylinders, following the closure of the energy corridor Strait of Hormuz due to the prevailing conflict in the Middle East. Under the leadership of Hon’ble PM @narendramodi Ji, all necessary steps are being taken to ensure uninterrupted availability of fuel, energy, and other critical supplies for our citizens.
Prices are increasing abroad, because of which oil marketing companies might stop buying–such a situation should not occur. They should continue to buy, bring it in, and make arrangements to ensure our public gets the right quantity at the right time. That’s why, due to this decision today, there will be no shortage in supply, no shortage in availability, and the public will get diesel, petrol, and crude,” the FM said.
The reduction comes amid a global energy crisis due to the US-Israel war on Iran and the consequent Tehran-imposed blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil and gas supply, between 20 and 25 million barrels per day, is shipped. Before the conflict, India bought 12 to 15 per cent of that oil.
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