India’s fuel supply steady amid West Asia tensions, says Govt

The government on Sunday said the country’s fuel and LPG supply situation remains stable despite the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia, while advising citizens against panic buying of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. It said adequate stocks are available across the country and supply chains are operating without disruption. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said around 47 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered on May 2 against bookings of 47.4 lakh cylinders, with no reports of dry-outs at distributorships. It added that refineries are functioning at high capacity and crude inventories remain sufficient. A Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier, MT Sarv Shakti, carrying over 46,000 tonnes of LPG, has safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is expected to reach Visakhapatnam on May 13. Retail fuel outlets across the country are operating normally, with petrol and diesel prices unchanged at PSU-run outlets.
The government has prioritised supply to households, along with domestic PNG and CNG users, while maintaining enhanced allocation for essential commercial sectors such as hospitals and agriculture. It said commercial LPG supply has been increased to about 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels. Authorities have also stepped up enforcement against hoarding and misinformation, conducting over 1,900 raids and penalising several LPG distributorships.
The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian nationals in West Asia remain safe and that coordination with Indian missions continues. It added that airspace restrictions in parts of the region are easing, with several Gulf carriers resuming normal operations to India.