The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Thursday, March 26, said India’s petroleum and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply situation is fully secure and under control.
"All retail fuel outlets have enough supplies. There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG anywhere in the country," the ministry said in a statement.
It also issued a caution to customers against a coordinated misinformation campaign aimed at creating panic among consumers. "The Ministry calls upon citizens not to be misled by a deliberately mischievous, coordinated campaign of misinformation that is being carried out to spread unjustified panic," it said.
All Fuel Outlets Operational
Calling India “an oasis of energy security”, the ministry said that since India is a net exporter to the world, domestic availability of petrol and diesel is "structurally assured."
“All 1 lakh-plus retail fuel outlets across the country are open and dispensing fuel without interruption. Not a single outlet has been asked to ration supply,” the ministry said.
Addressing reports of long queues at some pumps, the ministry said these were isolated cases triggered by misleading content on social media. “Where isolated instances of panic buying occurred… they were driven by deliberate misinformation,” it said, adding that fuel continued to be supplied to all consumers.
Oil marketing companies have since stepped up supplies, with depots operating round the clock to meet any surge in demand. The ministry also said companies have extended credit to petrol pump dealers to over three days from the earlier one day to ensure smooth availability and avoid working capital constraints.
India Sourcing Crude From 41 Plus Suppliers
The ministry added that India is currently receiving more crude oil from its 41-plus global suppliers than what was earlier routed through the Strait of Hormuz, an important sea route in the West Asian region which carries around one-fifth of the total global oil supply. “High volumes available in international markets — especially from the western hemisphere — have more than compensated for any disruption,” it said.
It added that all Indian refineries are operating at over 100 per cent utilisation, and oil companies have already secured crude supplies for the next 60 days.
“There is no supply gap,” the ministry said, dismissing concerns over any potential shortfall.
LPG Supply Steady, Cargoes Secured Amid Demand Spike
The ministry said refinery output has been increased by 40 per cent following the LPG Control Order, taking daily production to about 50,000 metric tonnes, or over 60 per cent of the country’s requirement of around 80,000 metric tonnes.
As a result, the net import requirement has come down to about 30,000 metric tonnes per day. “India is now producing much more than it needs to import,” the ministry said.
In addition to domestic output, 800,000 metric tonnes of LPG cargoes have already been secured and are on the way from countries including the United States, Russia and Australia. These shipments are being handled across India’s 22 LPG import terminals, up from 11 in 2014.
The ministry said around one month of supply has already been arranged, with further procurement underway.
Oil companies are currently delivering over 50 lakh cylinders every day. “Cylinder demand had gone up to 89 lakh cylinders due to panic ordering… and has now come down to 50 lakh cylinders again,” it said.
To prevent hoarding and black marketing, commercial cylinder allocations have been increased to 50 per cent in consultation with state governments, the ministry added.
Over 1.5 Crore Homes Now Have PNG, Push Not A Crisis Response
The government dismissed claims that PNG is being promoted due to an LPG shortage. “LPG supply is secure. PNG is simply a better, more affordable and highly convenient fuel for India's households,” the ministry said.
According to the ministry, Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is being promoted “in full coordination with state governments” because it is cheaper, cleaner, and safer for households. India produces 92 MMSCMD of natural gas domestically out of a total daily requirement of 191 MMSCMD, making the country far less dependent on imports than it is for LPG.
City gas distribution has expanded from 57 geographical areas in 2014 to over 300 today, while domestic PNG connections have grown from 25 lakh to more than 1.5 crore, the ministry added.
Ministry Warns Against False Social Media Posts On Fuel Shortage
The ministry said some posts “selectively use images of queues, global news footage of rationing in other countries, and completely bogus and fabricated claims of impending lockdowns and emergency fuel measures in India to create a wholly false impression of shortage.”
The government said the spread of such misinformation is causing unnecessary public anxiety. It urged citizens to rely only on official communications for information about fuel and gas availability.
Warning of strict action, the government said spreading false information about essential commodities is punishable under law. “Spreading false information regarding essential commodity availability is an offence… and the government will not hesitate to act against those found to be deliberately creating panic,” it said.
