The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has said there is no fuel shortage in the country, and that supplies of petrol, diesel and LPG remain fully assured.
In a statement, the ministry noted that India is the world’s fourth-largest refining nation and the fifth-largest exporter of petroleum products, supplying fuel to more than 150 countries. It said over one lakh fuel retail outlets across India are operating without disruption and have sufficient stocks.
The ministry said queues seen at a few petrol pumps were driven by unnecessary fear, amplified through social media and false reports. It appealed to the public not to be misled, adding that oil company depots are operating round-the-clock and that credit facilities have been extended to fuel stations to ensure uninterrupted distribution.
Addressing concerns linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry said India is sourcing crude from more than 40 suppliers and rejected claims that the country has only six days of stock. It said fuel inventories are available for the next 74 days, with additional crude purchases underway.
The statement also said domestic LPG production has risen by 40%, and imports of 8 lakh tonnes of petroleum products from the US, Russia, Australia and other countries have been secured. Oil companies are distributing over 50 lakh LPG cylinders daily, and commercial allocations have been increased to prevent hoarding.
