2 months ago
1
Liquefied petroleum state (LPG) refill bookings person declined to astir 77 lakh from 88.8 lakh earlier, indicating immoderate easing of panic buying, adjacent arsenic the authorities said determination is nary shortage of petrol, diesel oregon cooking gas, and supplies stay unchangeable contempt the West Asia conflict.
All home “refineries are operating astatine precocious capableness and maintaining capable crude lipid inventories,” the update said. “The state remains self-sufficient successful the accumulation of petrol and diesel, requiring nary imports of the fuels to conscionable home demand.” Oil selling companies person reported nary adust outs astatine substance retail outlets oregon LPG distributorships, and petrol, diesel and LPG supplies are being maintained regularly.
Meanwhile, an Indian-flagged crude tanker sailed retired safely from Fujairah successful the United Arab Emirates aft loading 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil, contempt an onslaught connected the lipid terminal. The vessel, Jag Laadki, departed Fujairah astatine 10.30 a.m. IST and is bound for India, with each unit members safe, the authorities said. Jag Laadki is the 4th Indian-flagged vas to person travel retired of the warfare portion unharmed. On Saturday (March 14, 2026), 2 Indian-flagged LPG carriers -- Shivalik and Nanda Devi -- carrying astir 92,712 tonnes of LPG crossed the war-hit Strait of Hormuz.
In its regular update connected the interaction of the West Asia situation, the authorities said the stock of online LPG bookings has risen to astir 87% from 84%, attributing the summation to a run by lipid selling companies promoting integer booking and discouraging radical from queuing up astatine LPG dealerships for panic purchases.
“LPG bookings person shown a decline, with astir 77 lakh bookings recorded yesterday [on Saturday] compared to 88.8 lakh bookings connected March 13, 2026,” the update said, adding, “Online LPG cylinder bookings person accrued from 84% to astir 87%.” The authorities said it continues to prioritise the interests of home consumers and guarantee uninterrupted LPG supply, peculiarly for households and precedence sectors specified arsenic hospitals and acquisition institutions.
Several States and Union Territories, including Bihar, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan, person issued orders for allocation of non-domestic LPG successful enactment with authorities guidelines.
State governments are undertaking enforcement measures to forestall hoarding and achromatic selling of petrol, diesel and LPG.
Raids are being carried retired successful respective States, including Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, to cheque hoarding and achromatic selling of LPG cylinders.
Officials of PSU Oil Marketing Companies are besides conducting astonishment inspections astatine LPG distributorships to guarantee creaseless proviso and forestall irregularities.
“Citizens are advised not to edifice to panic buying arsenic capable stocks of petrol and diesel are disposable crossed the country,” the update said.
Priority sectors proceed to person protected earthy state supplies, including 100% proviso for piped earthy state (PNG oregon earthy state piped to household for cooking purpose) and compressed earthy state (CNG), portion supplies to concern and commercialized users person been regulated astatine astir 80%.
Commercial LPG cylinders person been placed astatine the disposal of State governments for precedence organisation and are present disposable successful 30 States and Union Territories, portion authorities person stepped up raids and inspections to curb hoarding and black-marketing, it said.
The authorities has besides amended the LPG Control Order to mandate that consumers with PNG connections surrender home LPG connections, portion home LPG accumulation from refineries has been maximised and booking intervals rationalised to guarantee equitable distribution, it said.
Domestic LPG accumulation from refineries has been maximised, and respective proviso and demand-side measures person been implemented.
PSU lipid selling companies are promoting integer bookings, discouraging panic bookings and keeping LPG distributorships unfastened connected Sundays to facilitate creaseless supply.
“Citizens are advised not to panic arsenic the authorities remains committed to maintaining capable LPG availability for households and indispensable sectors,” it said. “Consumers are requested to debar panic bookings, usage integer booking platforms and debar unnecessary visits to LPG distributors.” Citizens are encouraged to opt for alternate fuels specified arsenic PNG wherever possible.
“The authorities continues to support coordination among the acrophobic Ministries and agencies and is taking indispensable steps to guarantee preparedness crossed cardinal sectors and safeguard nationalist interests,” it added.
The authorities besides said it is intimately monitoring the concern successful West Asia portion ensuring unchangeable substance supplies and maritime safety. Jag Laadki near Fujairah connected Sunday (March 15, 2026), portion Shivalik is owed to scope Mundra larboard successful Gujarat connected March 16, and Nanda Devi would dock astatine Kandla larboard connected March 17, according to the update.
“On March 14, 2026, portion the Indian-flag vessel Jag Laadki was loading crude lipid astatine the Fujairah Single Point Mooring, the Fujairah lipid terminal was attacked. The vas sailed safely from Fujairah astatine 1030 hrs IST contiguous [Sunday] carrying astir 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude lipid and is bound for India,” the update said. “The vas and each Indian seafarers onboard are safe.”
Shivalik and Nanda Devi were among the 24 ships that were stranded connected the westbound broadside of the strait since the warfare broke retired successful the region. Besides the 24 connected the westbound broadside of the strait, 4 others were stranded connected the eastbound side. One of the 4 connected the eastbound side, an India-flagged lipid tanker, Jag Prakash, carrying gasoline from Oman to Africa, crossed the war-hit strait connected Friday (March 13, 2026).
Jag Prakash loaded gasoline from Sohar larboard successful Oman and is present headed to Tanga successful Tanzania. It is owed to scope Tanga connected March 21.
The authorities said Indian vessels and seafarers operating successful the portion stay safe, and maritime operations are being intimately monitored. At present, 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers stay connected the westbound broadside of the Persian Gulf region.
India imports astir 88% of its crude oil, 50% of its earthy state and 60% of its LPG needs. Before the U.S.-Israel strikes connected Iran connected February 28 and Tehran’s retaliation, much than fractional of India’s crude imports, astir 30% of state and 85%-90% of LPG imports came from West Asian countries, specified arsenic Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
While India has partially offset crude proviso disruptions by sourcing lipid from countries, including Russia, state supplies person been curtailed to concern users and LPG availability to commercialized establishments, specified arsenic hotels and restaurants, has been reduced.
“The Directorate General of Shipping continues to show the concern successful coordination with vessel owners, RPSL agencies and Indian Missions,” the update said. “Since the activation of the DG Shipping Control Room, 2,995 telephone calls and much than 5,357 emails person been handled from seafarers, their families and maritime stakeholders seeking accusation and assistance.” DG Shipping has facilitated the harmless repatriation of 276 Indian seafarers from the Gulf portion truthful far, including 23 repatriations successful the past 24 hours from airports and determination locations.
Ports crossed the state are intimately monitoring vas movements and cargo operations successful presumption of the evolving maritime situation.
The Ministry of Shipping continues to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Indian Missions, shipping companies and maritime stakeholders to guarantee the information and payment of Indian seafarers portion maintaining the continuity of maritime commercialized and larboard operations, the update said.
The MEA is intimately monitoring the concern successful West Asia and assisting Indian nationals successful the portion done missions operating round-the-clock helplines. Around 1.94 lakh passengers person returned to India from the portion since February 28, it added.
