Kamal Ghorui
Amid rising concerns about fuel supply in the country, several oil giants have issued clarifications stating there is no shortage, calling such rumours “completely false” and assuring that supply remains normal and sufficient. The statements come at a time when global oil supplies are disrupted due to Iran’s chokehold of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing Middle East crisis. The firms also urged the buyers to not panic in the situation and avoid unnecessary purchases.Bharat Petroleum on Wednesday dismissed concerns around fuel shortage in the country, clarifying that the “rumors are completely false.” Taking to social media platform X, the oil giant wrote, “Important Notice Rumors of a petrol-diesel shortage are completely false. There is sufficient availability of fuel across the country and the supply is normal. BPCL is ensuring uninterrupted supply at all locations. Please do not panic and avoid unnecessary purchases.“Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited or HPCL also echoed a similar view, stating that “there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG across the country.” It further added, “Fuel supplies remain stable, and adequate stocks are available. Customers are advised not to be misled by rumours or resort to panic buying. Please continue with normal consumption patterns. HPCL remains committed to ensuring an uninterrupted and seamless fuel supply across its network.“Indian Oil also took to X, easing concerns around petrol and diesel shortage. The firm said, “there is no shortage of petrol or diesel. Rumours circulating online can create unnecessary concern and disrupt normal supply patterns. IndianOil outlets are well-stocked and fully operational. We urge citizens to avoid panic buying and rely only on verified information. Together, we can keep the system running efficiently for everyone.“To demonstrate the stability of its supply chain, Indian Oil Corporation Limited shared real-time updates from its retail outlets, pointing to normal operations at its COCO Maradu facility. “Our Retail Outlet COCO Maradu, Kochi at 09:30 AM Today. No Rush! No Panic! Everything is operating smoothly. We remain fully committed and available to serve you at all times,” the company said.Going further, the oil giant also dismissed any changes in LPG refill booking timelines. “Reports claiming changes in LPG refill booking timelines are incorrect. There is no change in the existing timelines (25 days in urban areas / 45 days in rural areas), and LPG supplies remain adequate across the country. Please rely only on official sources and avoid panic booking.The ongoing crisis in the Middle East region has triggered oil supply tensions globally and pushed oil prices higher. Last week, oil marketing companies raised the price of 95-octane premium petrol by nearly Rs 2 per litre and increased industrial diesel rates by Rs 22 per litre. However, prices of regular petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel have not been changed. Officials noted that the premium petrol segment accounts for less than 5% of total users. In parallel, global oil markets showed a decline in prices. Brent crude futures were down $6.21, or 5.9%, at $98.28 a barrel by 0058 GMT after touching a low of $97.57. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell $4.67, or 5.1%, to $87.68 a barrel, having earlier dropped to $86.72.
