Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas categorically states that India’s petroleum and 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 calls upon citizens not to be misled by a deliberately mischievous, coordinated campaign of misinformation that is being carried out to spread unjustified panic.
Petrol and Diesel: No Shortage, No Rationing
1. India is an oasis of energy security. India is the world’s 4th largest refiner and 5th largest exporter of petroleum products, supplying refined fuel to over 150 countries. Because India is a net exporter to the world, domestic petrol and diesel availability 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. Across the world, countries are dealing with price increases, rationing, odd-even vehicle restrictions, and forced station closures. Few have declared “National Energy Emergency”. India DOES NOT FEEL THE NEED FOR ANY SUCH MEASURES. While other nations are rationing, there is no shortage of supplies in India. Where isolated instances of panic buying occurred at select pumps, they were driven by deliberate misinformation spread by certain videos in social media. Despite the surge in demand on such pumps, fuel was dispensed to all the consumers and Oil company depots have been operational through the night to ramp up supplies. Steps have also been taken by Oil Companies to increase credit to petrol pumps to over 3 days from earlier allowed 1 day in order to ensure that there is no shortage of petrol and diesel at any pump due to working capital issues of pump owners.
Crude Oil Supply: Gap More Than Compensated
2. Despite the situation at the Strait of Hormuz, India is today receiving more crude oil from its 41-plus suppliers across the world than what was previously arriving through the Straits. High volumes available in international markets — especially from the western hemisphere — have more than compensated for any disruption. Every Indian refinery is running at over 100% utilisation. Crude oil supplies for next 60 days have already been tied up by Indian Oil companies. There is NO supply gap.
Strategic Reserves: The Complete and Accurate Picture
3. Misinformation has been circulating — including through some articles and social media videos — suggesting that only 6 days of stocks are there in the country. India has 74 days of total reserve capacity and actual stock cover is around 60 days right now (including crude stocks, products stocks and the dedicated strategic storage in caverns) even as we are on the 27th day of the Middle East crisis. Nearly two months of steady supply is available for every Indian citizen regardless of what happens globally. Next 2 months of crude procurement has also been secured. India is completely secure for next many months and the quantity in strategic cavern storage becomes secondary in such a supply situation. Therefore, any representation that India’s reserves are depleted or insufficient should be dismissed with the disdain it deserves.
LPG: Production Up, Import Requirement Down, Cargoes Secured
4. There is no LPG shortage. Following the LPG Control Order issued by this Ministry, domestic refinery production has been ramped up by 40%, bringing daily LPG output to 50 TMT (more than 60% of our requirement) against a total daily requirement of around 80 TMT. The net daily import requirement has consequently come down to only 30 TMT — meaning India is now producing much more than it needs to import. Over and above domestic production, 800 TMT of assured inbound LPG cargoes are already secured and en route from the United States, Russia, Australia, and other countries, arriving across India’s 22 LPG import terminals — double the 11 terminals that existed in 2014. Approximately one full month of supply is firmly arranged, with additional procurement being finalised continuously. Oil companies are successfully delivering over 50 lakh cylinders every day. Cylinder demand had gone up to 89 lakh cylinders due to panic ordering by consumers and has now come down to 50 lakh cylinders again. Commercial cylinder allocations have been raised to 50% in consultation with state governments to avoid hoarding or black marketing.
PNG Promotion: A Transition Already Underway, Not a Crisis Response
5. Piped Natural Gas is being promoted — in full coordination with state governments — because it is cheaper, cleaner, and safer for Indian households. India already produces 92 MMSCMD of natural gas domestically out of a total daily requirement of 191 MMSCMD, making India far less import-dependent on gas than on LPG. City gas distribution has expanded from 57 geographical areas in 2014 to over 300 today. Domestic PNG connections have grown from 25 lakh to over 1.5 crore. This transition was well underway before the current situation arose and reflects India’s long-term energy strategy. The claim that PNG is being pushed because LPG is running out is misinformation. LPG supply is secure. PNG is simply a better, more affordable and highly convenient fuel for India’s households.
Government Warning: Action Against Misinformation
6. The Ministry has noted with serious concern the circulation of misleading videos and posts on social media platforms that 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.
7. Some posts have deliberately misrepresented government orders — including the Natural Gas Control Order and the LPG Control Order — as emergency declarations signalling crisis, when in fact they are standard administrative instruments for supply prioritisation issued as a prudent and pre-emptive measure.
8. This misinformation is being spread by miscreants and amplified by motivated elements, causing unnecessary public anxiety. The Ministry urges all citizens to rely only on official government communications for information regarding fuel and gas availability. Spreading false information regarding essential commodity availability is an offence under applicable laws, and the government will not hesitate to act against those found to be deliberately creating panic.
