New Delhi: The government has asked public sector oil marketing companies—Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum—to set up LPG reserves for at least 30 days amid concerns over energy security triggered by the ongoing West Asia crisis.
“Oil marketing companies have been asked to work out a minimum of 30 days of LPG reserves,” Sujata Sharma, joint secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, told reporters at an inter-ministerial press briefing on the West Asia conflict Friday.
On domestic LPG demand, Sharma said consumption currently stands at 72,000 metric tonnes per day, of which 50,000-52,000 metric tonnes are produced domestically. She noted that before the West Asia conflict, India’s domestic LPG production was around 35,000 metric tons per day.
Domestic LPG supplies, she said, remain aligned with demand. “In the last four days, 1.78 crore LPG refill bookings were received and about 1.8 crore cylinders delivered.”
The government also confirmed a rise in demand for petrol and diesel at retail outlets in several districts across the country. Sharma attributed the increase to higher agricultural demand, a shift of bulk fuel sales to retail outlets, and customers moving from private fuel retailers to public sector retail outlets.
“150 districts are witnessing a 30 percent growth in petrol demand, whereas 14 districts are witnessing 100 percent growth. Similarly, 156 districts are witnessing a 30 percent surge in demand for diesel, while 6 are seeing a 100 percent increase,” Sharma said.
She added that oil marketing companies are also witnessing a 38 percent decline in fuel sales to the price differential. “An appeal has been made to industry associations to prevent hoarding and black marketing and to procure fuel only through authorised channels.”
On the supply of commercial LPG cylinders, Sharma said that 186,000 metric tonnes of commercial LPG have been sold since 1 May.
Providing an update on maritime traffic, Opesh Kumar Sharma, director in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said that a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, Nissos Keros, safely transited the Strait of Hormuz on the night of 25-26 May and is expected to arrive at Visakhapatnam on 3 June 2026.
“This merchant vessel is carrying approximately 270,000 metric tons of crude oil. It has all foreign crew members,” Sharma said.
Giving an update on Indian-linked vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, Sharma said 13 ships remain stuck in the region. These include five crude oil tankers, three container vessels, two bulk carriers, one LPG tanker, one chemical tanker, and one treasury vessel.
On plans to resume voyages for energy procurement, Sharma said the government’s immediate priority is to ensure the return of Indian-flagged vessels currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
(Edited by Harini TS)
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