Govt assures adequate fuel supplies amid West Asia crisis, reiterates warning against panic buying

New Delhi. The government on March 14 said India has sufficient fuel supplies and that refineries are operating at high capacity, even as authorities continue to monitor the fallout of the ongoing West Asia conflict and its potential impact on energy and maritime operations.

During the fourth inter-ministerial media briefing held at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting provided updates on energy availability, maritime safety and the welfare of Indian nationals in the region.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said all domestic refineries are functioning at high levels and maintaining adequate crude oil inventories despite concerns arising from tensions around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. India, she noted, is self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel, and domestic demand is currently being met without imports.

Oil marketing companies have reported no instances of fuel shortages at retail outlets across the country. The government urged citizens to avoid panic buying, assuring that sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are available and supplies are being maintained regularly.

Natural gas supplies to priority sectors such as piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) remain unaffected, with authorities ensuring full allocation to these segments. Supplies to industrial and commercial consumers, however, are currently being regulated at around 80 percent.

To reduce pressure on LPG usage, GAIL (India) Limited has held virtual meetings with city gas distribution entities across major urban centres including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Lucknow, urging them to expand commercial PNG connections for hotels and restaurants.

Sharma acknowledged that LPG supplies remain under strain due to the geopolitical situation and a surge in consumer demand. Daily LPG bookings have jumped from an average of about 5.57 million to 8.88 million, largely due to panic booking by consumers. However, authorities said no distributor has reported stock depletion so far.

To manage demand, commercial LPG cylinders have been made available for priority distribution in 29 states and union territories. The government has also increased LPG output from refineries by about 31 percent and encouraged consumers to use digital platforms such as IVRS, SMS, WhatsApp and mobile applications for booking cylinders instead of visiting distributors.

State governments have been actively reviewing fuel and LPG supplies. Meetings have been held in states such as Haryana, Goa and Telangana, while officials in Andhra Pradesh have also reviewed stock positions with oil companies. Seventeen states and union territories have established control rooms to monitor supply conditions.

Authorities have also stepped up enforcement against hoarding and black marketing. Joint inspection teams conducted raids in Maharashtra and Rajasthan, while oil companies carried out about 1,300 inspections at LPG distributorships in a single day. In Uttar Pradesh, enforcement teams inspected nearly 1,500 locations, leading to the registration of 24 cases and the arrest of six individuals. Similar checks have been reported in several other states.

To further ease pressure on LPG supplies, regulatory authorities have temporarily allowed industries, hotels and restaurants in the National Capital Region to use alternative fuels such as biomass pellets or refuse-derived fuel in place of natural gas for a limited period.

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said maritime operations in the Persian Gulf remain under close watch. No new incident involving Indian seafarers has been reported in the past 24 hours, and all Indian crew members operating in the region are safe.

Two Indian-flagged LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying over 92,000 tonnes of LPG crossed the Strait of Hormuz early on March 13 and are expected to arrive at ports in Gujarat in the coming days. At present, 22 Indian-flagged vessels with over 600 seafarers remain in the Gulf region, and authorities are maintaining constant contact with shipping companies and Indian missions.

Sinha said the Directorate General of Shipping has received hundreds of calls and emails from seafarers and their families through its control room over the past few weeks, while a round-the-clock quick response team is coordinating with shipping companies and diplomatic missions.

The government has also prioritised LPG vessels at major ports and offered operational concessions to shipping lines to minimise disruptions to maritime trade.

Providing an update on the welfare of Indian nationals in the region, Rndhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said India continues to remain in close contact with countries in the Gulf, including Iran, Israel and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Since the conflict began on February 28, around 172,000 passengers have returned to India from the region, while Indian missions are assisting citizens with visa extensions and travel arrangements.

In a separate development, the ministry said consultations are also underway among members of the BRICS grouping regarding a possible joint position on the evolving situation, given that some member countries are directly involved in the conflict.

The officials emphasised that India continues to call for de-escalation and dialogue while prioritising energy security, maritime safety and the welfare of Indian citizens abroad.

Meanwhile, the information and broadcasting ministry warned that misleading messages and AI-generated videos related to the crisis are circulating on social media. Citizens were advised to rely only on verified government sources for updates and avoid spreading unverified information.

The government reiterated that it is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and coordinating across ministries to ensure stable energy supplies, safe maritime operations and uninterrupted availability of essential commodities across the country.