Don’t panic, govt says as India moves to safeguard fuel supplies and citizens amid West Asia conflict

New Delhi, March 13. The Indian government on March 13 urged all citizens not to panic in the face of reports of shortages in fuel supplies in the wake of the conflict in West Asia.

During an inter-ministerial media briefing here, senior officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, External Affairs, and Shipping outlined steps to maintain energy security, ensure fuel supplies, and assist Indian nationals affected by the crisis.

Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said India currently has adequate fuel supplies and that the country’s refining capacity of 258 million metric tonnes ensures self-sufficiency in the production of petrol and diesel. She noted that all refineries are operating at full capacity and have sufficient crude oil inventories. As a result, there is no need for India to import petrol and diesel.

The government has issued a control order prioritising supplies for key sectors while ensuring uninterrupted distribution of piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG). PNG connections currently serve around 1.5 crore households, and 60 lakh more households located near distribution networks have been encouraged to switch to PNG in order to reduce pressure on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies.

Officials also urged commercial establishments in major cities that rely on LPG to consider shifting to PNG connections through their local city gas distribution networks.

Authorities said there has been no “fuel dry-out” reported at any of the country’s nearly one lakh retail petrol and diesel outlets, and supplies remain stable across the country.

Sharma acknowledged that LPG supply remains an area of concern because a significant portion of India’s imports comes through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping movements have been disrupted due to the conflict.

Despite the challenges, officials said no distributor among the country’s 25,000 LPG dealers has reported running out of stock. The government appealed to citizens to avoid panic buying and panic booking of cylinders. While the normal daily booking rate ranges between 50 and 55 lakh cylinders, bookings have surged to around 75-76 lakh in recent days, reflecting anxiety-driven demand.

To handle consumer queries and grievances, public sector oil marketing companies have expanded call-centre operations to 400 seats and 650 telephone lines.

Authorities are also cracking down on black marketing and hoarding. The petroleum secretary and the consumer affairs secretary held a meeting with state and union territory officials to coordinate enforcement measures and ensure adequate supply.

Several states – including Meghalaya, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Kerala, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh – have set up control rooms to monitor the situation. State governments such as Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are issuing daily updates.

To manage demand pressures, the government has increased domestic LPG production at refineries by about 30 percent compared with levels earlier in March. Commercial cylinders have also been placed at the disposal of state governments for prioritised distribution to essential sectors.

An additional allocation of 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene has been approved for states to distribute where required. Coal India has also been directed to ensure adequate coal supply to small and medium consumers – including hotels and restaurants – as an alternative fuel option.

The government warned distributors and retailers against illegal storage or diversion of fuel. Enforcement actions have already been taken in several cases, including the recovery of stolen LPG cylinders in Uttar Pradesh and raids on illegal storage facilities in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said shipping authorities and ports are working closely with exporters and shipping lines to address disruptions caused by the conflict.

Each major port has established a single-point contact to handle grievances and coordination. LPG carrier vessels are being given priority berthing, while additional storage space and ad-hoc berthing arrangements are being provided where needed. Ports are also prioritising the handling of perishable cargo and facilitating faster clearance and transportation of goods.

The government confirmed that three Indian seafarers were killed in the recent attacks, while one remains missing. Four others sustained minor injuries but have since been discharged after treatment. The Directorate General of Shipping is in contact with their families and is providing assistance.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, emphasising the safety of Indian citizens and the importance of protecting energy and transportation links.

India has called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.

The External Affairs Ministry has set up a special control room to assist Indians in the region. Since March 4, the facility has received around 900 phone calls and 200 emails seeking assistance.

India has also been facilitating the evacuation of citizens from affected areas. In recent days, 170 Indians crossed from Iran into Armenia through the land border, with several already returning to India while others are expected to follow via commercial flights.

Overall, since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, approximately 1.5 lakh Indian nationals have returned to India from various countries in the Gulf region.

Jaiswal said the government continues to closely monitor developments as about one crore Indian citizens reside in West Asia and the Gulf.

Flight operations have gradually resumed in parts of the region. Limited commercial flights are operating from the United Arab Emirates, while Qatar Airways has facilitated the return of nearly 2,900 Indians in recent days. Flights from Saudi Arabia – including those operated by Air India Express and IndiGo – have also resumed.

However, airspace in some countries such as Iraq and Kuwait remains restricted, forcing airlines to operate through alternate airports in neighbouring countries.

The officials also reported a security incident in Suhar city in Oman, where two Indian nationals were killed in an attack and 10 others were injured. Five of the injured have already been discharged from hospital, while the remaining are undergoing treatment. The Indian mission is coordinating with local authorities and employers to assist those affected.

Meanwhile, the crew of the vessel SFC Vishnu, which was attacked near Basra in Iraq earlier this month, has been safely evacuated. The 15 crew members are currently staying in a hotel in Basra while arrangements are being made for their repatriation to India.

The officials reiterated their appeal for the public to remain calm and avoid panic buying, assuring that the government is taking all necessary steps to maintain energy supplies and support Indian citizens amid the ongoing crisis.