Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday assured that India is not facing any fuel shortage despite growing volatility in global energy markets triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.Addressing reporters in Tiruchirappalli, Goyal said the government is closely monitoring developments and taking proactive measures to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability across the country.
“There is absolutely no shortage of fuel,” the minister said, adding that authorities remain vigilant as the situation in the region continues to evolve. Relevant departments, he noted, are continuously reviewing developments and will share updates whenever necessary.“A serious war is going on… in such a situation there will naturally be concerns. The concerned departments are monitoring the situation very closely,” he said.Government activates emergency measuresThe assurance comes days after the Union government invoked provisions under the Essential Commodities Act to stabilise the domestic energy market amid fears of global supply disruptions.Under the directive issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, refineries and petrochemical plants have been instructed to maximise production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and divert key hydrocarbon streams to the LPG pool to maintain a steady supply of cooking gas.As part of the revised allocation framework, domestic consumers have been given top priority in the distribution of natural gas. The government has assured full supply of piped natural gas for households and compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles.Other sectors will receive regulated supplies based on their average consumption over the previous six months. Industries connected to the gas grid, including tea processing units and manufacturing facilities, will receive about 80 per cent of their usual supply. Fertiliser plants have been allocated around 70 per cent of their previous average consumption.Supply adjustments amid Hormuz concernsOfficials said the rebalancing also includes a 35 per cent reduction in natural gas supply from refineries and petrochemical plants in order to prioritise essential domestic consumption.The measures come as India faces potential logistical disruptions linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor through which nearly 30 per cent of the country’s natural gas imports typically pass.To mitigate risks, the government is exploring alternative procurement routes and supply arrangements while prioritising LPG availability for households to safeguard energy security during the ongoing geopolitical crisis.
