India assures stable fuel supplies, maritime safety amid West Asia crisis

New Delhi, March 17. The government has said India’s fuel supplies remain stable and well-managed despite escalating tensions in West Asia, even as it intensified monitoring of maritime operations and the safety of Indian nationals in the region.

At a regular inter-ministerial media briefing here on March 17, officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, External Affairs, and Ports, Shipping and Waterways outlined measures taken to safeguard energy availability, shipping operations and citizens amid disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

Fuel supplies remain steady

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said all refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, ensuring uninterrupted supply of petrol and diesel. India continues to be self-sufficient in meeting domestic demand for these fuels, with no imports required.

Oil marketing companies have reported no fuel shortages across retail outlets, and authorities urged citizens to avoid panic buying, Sharma said, stressing that supplies are being maintained smoothly.

On natural gas, priority sectors such as piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) are receiving full supplies, while deliveries to industrial and commercial users are being moderated at about 80 percent. Consumers, particularly commercial establishments, have been encouraged to shift to PNG, with city gas distribution firms offering incentives to support the transition.

LPG supply strengthened, monitoring intensified

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies are being closely monitored in view of the evolving geopolitical situation. Officials said no shortages have been reported at distributorships, while domestic LPG production from refineries has been ramped up by around 38 percent.

Digital booking of LPG cylinders has risen sharply, and authentication systems have been expanded to curb diversion. The government has also revised booking intervals and encouraged PNG adoption to ease pressure on LPG demand.

States and union territories have stepped up enforcement against hoarding and black marketing under the Essential Commodities Act. More than 12,000 raids have been conducted nationwide, leading to the seizure of over 15,000 cylinders. Public sector oil companies have also carried out thousands of surprise inspections.

Additional kerosene allocations have been made to states to provide alternative fuel options, while authorities continue to promote energy conservation and digital booking systems.

Maritime operations under close watch

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said shipping operations in the Persian Gulf are being closely monitored, with no incidents involving Indian seafarers reported in the past 24 hours.

Currently, 22 Indian-flagged vessels with over 600 Indian crew members remain in the western Persian Gulf. Authorities are in constant coordination with shipowners and Indian missions to ensure their safety.

The Directorate General of Shipping has handled thousands of queries from seafarers and their families and facilitated the repatriation of over 447 Indian seafarers so far.

Cargo operations are continuing at major ports, with LPG carriers such as Shivalik and Nanda Devi arriving at Indian ports and unloading supplies. Sinha said congestion at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority is easing, and container backlogs are being gradually cleared.

Government steps up monitoring, enforcement

The Centre has directed states to intensify inspections and crack down on hoarding and black marketing. Most states have set up control rooms and district-level monitoring committees to ensure smooth distribution of fuel.

Authorities reiterated that ensuring uninterrupted LPG supply to households and essential services such as hospitals remains a top priority.

Indian nationals’ safety remains priority

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said the government continues to monitor the situation in West Asia closely, with a dedicated control room operating round the clock.

More than 700 Indian nationals have crossed over from Iran into neighbouring countries such as Armenia and Azerbaijan, with further evacuations underway. Since February 28, around 2.44 lakh passengers have returned to India from the region.

Indian missions across the Gulf are operating 24×7 helplines and assisting citizens with travel, documentation and logistics. Flights continue to operate from countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman, while alternative transit arrangements are being facilitated where airspace remains restricted.

The government also confirmed casualties involving Indian nationals in recent incidents and said efforts are ongoing to repatriate mortal remains and assist affected families.

Continued vigilance

The officials emphasised that the government remains vigilant and is maintaining close coordination across ministries to safeguard energy supplies, maritime trade and the welfare of Indian citizens.

Citizens have been advised to rely on official information, avoid panic buying and use digital platforms for fuel-related services, as India navigates the evolving crisis in West Asia.