Government appeals to avoid panic buying amid Hormuz disruptions, assures sufficient fuel
The government has urged citizens to avoid panic buying of petrol, diesel, and LPG. It stated that despite disruptions related to the closure of the Hormuz Strait, fuel supply is sufficient and the situation is under control.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas mentioned that active measures are being taken to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and cooking gas in the country. People have been advised to rely only on official information and to conserve energy. The government has prioritized domestic LPG and piped natural gas (PNG), especially for households, hospitals, and essential services.
Refineries have increased production to balance demand and enhance supply, and the interval for filling gas cylinders has also been extended. Strict measures have been implemented to curb hoarding and black marketing, with over 3,700 raids conducted so far, and nearly 1,000 show-cause notices issued to LPG distributors, of which 27 dealers have been suspended. The supply of commercial LPG has been limited to about 70 percent of previous levels, while the use of alternative fuels like kerosene and coal is being increased to alleviate pressure.
In terms of natural gas, full supply is being provided to households and the transport sector, while supply to the industry and fertilizer sectors is being gradually increased. The ministry reported that all refineries are operating at high capacity and sufficient stocks are available at petrol pumps across the country. To provide relief from rising global prices, the government has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by 10 rupees per liter and imposed a duty on exports.
Meanwhile, an Indian LPG tanker carrying nearly half a day's supply of cooking gas has successfully crossed the war-torn Hormuz Strait, while another Iranian vessel has reached Mangalore port. The government informed about the situation in West Asia, stating that the LPG ship named 'Green Sanvi' has safely crossed the Hormuz Strait with 46,650 tons of cooking gas and 25 crew members. Green Sanvi is the seventh Indian-flagged LPG tanker to cross this crucial maritime route.
This strait has been in a near-closure situation since February 28, following attacks by the US and Israel on Iran and Tehran's subsequent retaliation, significantly affecting ship movement. Separately, it was mentioned that a ship carrying cooking gas from Iran has reached Mangalore port and is currently unloading gas. This is possibly the first energy purchase from Iran in the last seven years.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas posted on the social media platform 'X' that the LPG ship named 'Sea Bird', which brought approximately 44,000 tons of Iranian cooking gas, arrived at Mangalore port on April 2 and is currently unloading gas. This purchase occurred at a time when the US recently granted temporary relief from sanctions imposed on Iranian oil and related products to control rising prices amid the West Asia crisis. Despite the passage of 'Green Sanvi', 17 Indian-flagged ships remain stranded in the western part of the strait.
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