The government on Monday said India’s fuel supply situation remains stable, with adequate crude oil availability and refineries operating at peak capacity even as geopolitical tensions in Middle East continue to disrupt regional energy flows.
Addressing concerns over possible shortages, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery) in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the domestic petroleum supply chain is functioning smoothly and retail fuel outlets are operating without disruption.
“Crude is available in sufficient quantity. All refineries are operating at the highest capacity. Our petrol pumps are operating normally. No dry out has been reported anywhere,” Sharma said, ANI quoted.
Officials noted that oil marketing companies are closely monitoring stock levels and logistics to ensure uninterrupted distribution of petrol and diesel across the country.
The assurance comes as Indian-flagged vessels carrying energy cargo continue to transit the conflict-affected Strait of Hormuz.
Shipping Ministry Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said an LPG carrier is set to dock at Mundra port shortly, with priority arrangements made to facilitate swift unloading.
“Shivalik LPG carrier, which sailed from the Persian Gulf, crossed the Strait of Hormuz and headed towards India, will be reaching today around 5 pm, maybe after an hour or so. And before its arrival, documentation, priority berthing, and everything have been arranged at the port so that there is no delay in the discharge of cargo by this vessel. All Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf area are safe." He said.
"No incident has been reported in the last 24 hours, and we are keeping a continuous watch on the situation. We are in touch with each vessel and its crew. 22 vessels, as was reported on Saturday, also. 22 Indian flag vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf...” Sinha added.
He added that another Indian vessel carrying crude oil from the UAE is also safely headed to India.
“Indian-flag vessel ‘Jag Laadki’, which sailed from the UAE on 14th of March, is carrying about 81,000 tonnes of Murban crude oil, is safely en route to India. The vessel and all Indian seafarers on board are safe. They'll be reaching tomorrow at Mundra Port,” Sinha said.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar earlier indicated that India is engaging with Iran to facilitate the reopening of the key maritime route. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said diplomatic coordination was beginning to yield results.
“Certainly, from India's perspective, it is better that we reason and we coordinate and we get a solution than we don't. While this is a welcome development, there is continuing conversation because there is continued work on that,” Jaishankar said.
He noted that while recent vessel movements demonstrate progress, passage for Indian ships is currently being managed on a “case-by-case basis.”
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