‘Not a time for rumour-mongering’: Oil minister Hardeep Puri assures fuel supplies during Middle East conflict

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri India remains prepared to deal with disruptions in global energy supplies triggered by conflicts in West Asia, it told the Lok Sabha on Thursday, assuring lawmakers that domestic fuel supplies and power generation were fully protected while urging to avoid rumours.Addressing the House amid protests from opposition members, Puri said the government had ensured adequate production and alternative supply arrangements to sustain energy demand even as the conflict persisted. “India has adequate gas production and supply arrangements to maintain this position even in the event of a protracted conflict. The generation of electricity for every household and industry is fully protected,” Puri said.

The union minister added that hostilities have effectively shut down commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping lane that normally carries about 20% of the world’s crude oil, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas. Despite the disruption, about 45% of India’s crude oil imports previously passed through this route, but the country has continued to stabilize supplies by increasing alternative procurement. He said that “non-Hormuz crude oil imports have increased from 55% before the conflict began to about 70%.”Puri attributes this resilience in part to the long-term diversification of crude oil suppliers, noting that India now imports oil from 40 countries, compared with just 27 countries in 2006-07. “There is no shortage of gasoline, diesel, kerosene, ATF or fuel oil. The supply of gasoline, diesel, aviation turbine fuel, kerosene and fuel oil is fully guaranteed,” he assured the House, adding that capacity utilization at domestic refineries was high, “more than 100 percent” in some cases.He further urged the public and political stakeholders to avoid spreading misinformation during the ongoing energy crisis triggered by the conflict in West Asia, stressing that the government’s preparedness and response mechanisms were functioning effectively. “Now is not the time to spread rumors or false narratives. India is experiencing the worst global energy disruption on record. Fuel supplies are flowing, gas is being prioritized for households and farms, and LPG production has increased by 28%. Consumer prices are well below market trends and regional competitors. Schools are open, gas stations are offering petrol… India must come together to support energy workers, the institutions responding to the crisis and the national interest. Preparation records and response records speak for themselves. ” he said.On gas supply, the minister said the government introduced a priority distribution system in line with the gas control order issued on March 9. Although a major facility in Qatar declared force majeure on natural gas imports of 30 MMSCMD, domestic production remained stable at 90 MMSCMD.“The supply of piped gas for domestic use and compressed natural gas for vehicles is at 100% and will not be reduced. Supply to industrial and manufacturing consumers will be 80% of the average level of the previous six months. Supply to fertilizer plants will be 70%, thus protecting the agricultural input chain ahead of the sowing season. Refineries and petrochemical units absorbed managed reductions and reallocated gas to higher priority sectors. I am pleased to inform the House that the shortfall has been significantly offset by alternative procurement. ” Puri said.The government has also taken measures to ensure the supply of LPG to about 330 million households. According to the minister, domestic LPG production has increased by 28% in the past five days as per the refinery directive. To curb hoarding and regulate demand, authorities have mandated a minimum gap of 25 days between bookings of LPG cylinders in urban areas and expanded the delivery verification code system to cover 90 per cent of consumers.Puri also clarified that domestic LPG delivery lead time will not be affected. “Domestic supply is fully guaranteed and the delivery cycle has not changed. The standard time from booking to delivery of domestic LPG cylinders is still 2.5 days, which is unchanged from the pre-crisis standard,” he said.To further alleviate pressure on gas supplies, the government has launched alternative fuel options. Kerosene is being made available through public distribution system channels, while the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has “advised state pollution control boards to allow the use of biomass, RDF pellets and kerosene/coal as alternative fuels for the hotel and catering industry for one month during the crisis, which will enable more businesses to switch and release LPG for priority consumers,” Puri added.