Calm Amidst the Storm: Government Assures Normal Supply of Fuel and LPG Despite West Asia Crisis
Despite escalating tensions, authorities report uninterrupted fuel and gas distribution across the nation, bolstered by a surge in online bookings and targeted sales boosts.
The government is projecting a picture of stability today, insisting that the supply of petrol, diesel, LPG, and PNG remains entirely normal across India, despite the unfolding crisis in West Asia. Addressing an Inter-Ministerial Briefing in New Delhi, Joint Secretary for the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma, offered reassurance regarding the country’s energy security.
“No dry-outs have been reported at any LPG distributorships,” Sharma stated, emphatically confirming the uninterrupted flow of the vital gas. She further reported that all petrol pumps are operating without interruption, maintaining adequate availability of petrol and diesel, and denying any shortages.
Beyond the immediate fuel supply, Sharma highlighted a significant shift in consumer behaviour. “The delivery of LPG cylinders is continuing smoothly, and online LPG bookings have increased to approximately 96%,” she noted. The total commercial LPG allocation has risen to about 70% of pre-crisis levels, indicating a resilient market despite the heightened geopolitical situation.
A key element of the strategy involves boosting sales of the smaller 5kg cylinders. “To boost the sale of five kg cylinders, the government has issued a new order to double their sales,” Sharma explained. This initiative has already yielded results: “In February, the average daily sale of five kg cylinders stood at around 77,000 cylinders, which has now increased to approximately 1 lakh cylinders a day.” Furthermore, approximately 780,000 5-kg Free Trade LPG cylinders have been sold since March 23rd.
Meanwhile, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mukesh Mangal, offered a separate update on the safety of Indian seafarers. “All Indian seafarers in the West Asia region are safe, and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours,” he confirmed. Currently, 16 Indian-flagged vessels carrying 433 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region, a testament to ongoing monitoring and coordination by the Directorate General of Shipping in collaboration with shipowners and Indian Missions.
