New Delhi, March 15: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Sunday said India remains self-sufficient in the production of petrol and diesel, with no requirement for imports to meet domestic demand as refineries across the country continue to operate at high capacity.
In a statement, the ministry said adequate crude oil inventories are being maintained to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability across the country.
Public sector oil marketing companies — Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited — have reported no cases of fuel dry-outs at retail outlets, with regular supplies of petrol and diesel being maintained nationwide.
The government said it continues to prioritise domestic consumers and ensure uninterrupted supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), particularly for households and priority sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. Citizens have been advised to avoid panic buying as adequate stocks of petrol and diesel are available.
Oil marketing companies are encouraging LPG consumers to use digital booking platforms such as IVRS calls, SMS, WhatsApp and mobile applications, while LPG distributorships are being kept open on Sundays to maintain smooth supply.
The ministry said LPG supply is being closely monitored amid the prevailing geopolitical situation. LPG bookings declined to around 77 lakh on Saturday from 88.8 lakh on Friday, while online bookings increased from 84 per cent to about 87 per cent.
Priority sectors continue to receive protected gas supplies, including full allocation for piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG), while supply to industrial and commercial consumers is being regulated at around 80 per cent.
The government has also encouraged commercial LPG users in major cities to shift to PNG connections through city gas distribution companies.
To ease pressure on LPG supplies, domestic LPG production at refineries has been maximised and refill booking intervals have been rationalised to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural regions.
Additionally, an extra allocation of 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene has been provided to states and Union Territories, while alternative fuels such as kerosene and coal have been activated for select sectors including hospitality and restaurants.
