Govt Confirms 60 Days of Crude, 1 Month of LPG Supply

New Delhi: The Indian government on Thursday dismissed “coordinated misinformation” regarding fuel shortages, confirming that the nation’s petroleum and LPG supplies remain fully secure. Despite the 27-day-old Middle East crisis, the Ministry of Petroleum assured citizens that every retail outlet has sufficient stock.

Crude Oil and Fuel Reserves

India currently maintains a robust buffer to insulate the economy from global volatility:

• Current Stock Cover: India holds roughly 60 days of actual stock, including crude, refined products, and strategic underground cavern storage.
• Total Capacity: The country possesses a total reserve capacity of 74 days.
• Future Procurement: Oil companies have already secured crude supplies for the next 60 days from over 41 global suppliers.
• Refinery Output: Every Indian refinery is currently operating at over 100% utilization.

LPG and Natural Gas Stability

The Ministry highlighted a significant shift toward domestic self-reliance to counter import risks at the Strait of Hormuz:

• LPG Production: Domestic refinery production of LPG has ramped up by 40%, reaching 50 TMT daily (covering 60% of national demand).
• Inbound Cargo: 800 TMT of LPG is currently en route from the US, Russia, and Australia.
• Supply Chain: Oil companies are successfully delivering over 50 lakh cylinders daily.
• PNG Expansion: Domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections have grown to 1.5 crore, providing a cheaper and safer alternative to cylinders.

Countering Misinformation

The Ministry emphasized that India does not need the energy rationing or “National Emergencies” currently seen in other nations. To support petrol pump owners during spikes in demand, oil companies have increased credit limits to three days (up from one) to ensure working capital issues do not hinder supply.

Authorities urge citizens to ignore social media rumors and rely solely on official communications regarding fuel availability.