Government Confirms No Fuel Shortage; LPG Stocks Sufficient
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, April 1 (NationPress) The government has confirmed that India's crude reserves are sufficient, ensuring a reliable crude supply for the upcoming two months. Sujata Sharma, the Joint Secretary of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, stated that all refineries are functioning at full capacity, and there have been no reports of fuel shortages at retail locations.
Sharma emphasized that, despite Brent crude prices rising from around $70 per barrel two months ago to over $100 today, there has been no increase in petrol and diesel prices for consumers.
She noted that oil marketing companies (OMCs) are currently experiencing losses on petrol and diesel sales.
Regarding LPG, Sharma assured that deliveries continue as normal.
"Our dependency on LPG imports stands at approximately 60%. Compared to last month, international prices, especially the Saudi CP benchmark, have surged from $522 to $780, marking a 44% rise. Nevertheless, domestic LPG cylinder prices remain unchanged for consumers," she explained.
Additionally, the government has made significant strides in expanding the PNG network, providing 3.3 lakh new PNG connections in March. A full supply of natural gas has been guaranteed for both domestic users and the compressed natural gas (CNG) transport sector.
Earlier today, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarified that while the price of commercial LPG has increased, the price for domestic LPG remains stable to shield households from escalating import costs amidst the ongoing Iran conflict.
It was also mentioned that public sector oil marketing companies are currently facing an under-recovery of Rs 380 per cylinder at current prices.