New Delhi, Mar 15: The Government of India on Saturday said adequate stocks of petrol, diesel and LPG are available across the country and urged citizens not to resort to panic buying amid the evolving situation in West Asia.
In a detailed update, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and other authorities outlined a series of measures covering energy supply, maritime safety and assistance to Indian nationals in the region.
LPG Rule Amended to Optimise Supply
The government has amended the LPG Control Order to optimise domestic LPG availability. Under the amendment issued on March 14, consumers who have access to piped natural gas (PNG) will be required to surrender their LPG connections, and new LPG connections will not be issued to PNG consumers.
Officials said the move aims to prioritise LPG supplies for households and essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.
Consumers have also been advised to use digital platforms—including IVRS, SMS, WhatsApp and mobile applications of oil marketing companies—for booking LPG cylinders. Authorities said online bookings have increased from 84% to about 87%.
Stable Fuel Supply Across India
According to the government, all refineries in India are operating at high capacity and maintaining sufficient crude oil inventories. Officials said the country remains self-sufficient in petrol and diesel production, and no imports are required to meet domestic demand.
Oil marketing companies have reported no fuel dry-outs at retail outlets, while LPG distributorships across the country are continuing regular supply.
LPG bookings have also declined slightly, with around 77 lakh bookings recorded on Friday compared to 88.8 lakh the previous day.
States Step Up Monitoring
State governments and Union Territories have intensified monitoring of fuel supplies. Control rooms have been set up in 22 states and UTs to oversee the situation and prevent hoarding or black marketing of LPG cylinders.
Raids are also being conducted in several states, including Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, to check illegal stockpiling.
The government has also rationalised LPG booking intervals to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas to ensure equitable distribution.
Indian Ships, Seafarers Safe
Authorities confirmed that Indian shipping operations remain stable despite the regional tensions.
An Indian-flagged vessel, Jag Laadki, which was loading crude oil at the Fujairah Oil Terminal when the facility came under attack on March 14, has sailed safely for India carrying about 80,800 metric tonnes of Murban crude oil.
Two LPG carriers—Shivalik and Nanda Devi—have also crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are expected to arrive at Mundra Port on March 16 and Kandla Port on March 17 respectively.
Officials said 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers remain west of the Persian Gulf, and the Directorate General of Shipping is closely monitoring the situation.
Assistance to Indians in the Region
The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions across the Gulf are operating 24×7 helplines and maintaining close contact with the Indian community.
Since February 28, nearly 1.94 lakh passengers have returned from the region to India. Flights continue to operate from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman, while limited services are also operating from Qatar.
For Indian nationals in Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq, transit arrangements through Saudi Arabia are being facilitated.
The government confirmed that five Indian nationals have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, while one person remains missing.
Officials said the Centre is maintaining close coordination among ministries and agencies to ensure preparedness across key sectors and safeguard national interests.
