The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued a firm reassurance that petrol, diesel and LPG supplies across India are secure, rejecting social media rumours of an imminent fuel crisis and calling the country an “oasis of energy security.” The statement says official data show ample stocks and steady refinery output, and urges citizens to trust government communications rather than viral videos that have triggered short-lived panic buying.
According to the ministry, India is the world’s fourth-largest refiner and fifth-largest exporter of petroleum products, supplying refined fuel to more than 150 countries-an arrangement the government says helps protect domestic availability. All of the country’s more than 100,000 retail fuel outlets are reported to be fully operational with no rationing or station closures, and oil companies have extended credit periods to dealers to prevent working-capital shortages from disrupting supplies. The ministry stressed that “India DOES NOT FEEL THE NEED FOR ANY SUCH MEASURES” seen elsewhere.
On crude and strategic reserves, officials say India now sources crude from 41 suppliers and that refineries are running above 100% capacity. The ministry said supplies for the next 60 days are secured and that India’s total reserve capacity is 74 days, with current stocks covering roughly 60 days when crude, finished products and underground storage are combined-comments intended to refute claims that the country holds only six days of stock. “Any representation that India’s reserves are depleted or insufficient should be dismissed with the disdain it deserves,” the ministry added.
The LPG sector, the statement says, has seen domestic production increase by 40% to about 50 TMT (thousand metric tonnes) per day, reducing reliance on imports. More than 800 TMT of LPG are reportedly en route from partners including Russia, Australia and the United States to 22 import terminals. Panic buying briefly pushed demand to 89 lakh cylinders a day, the ministry noted; demand has since stabilised to around the usual 50 lakh cylinders, and a one-month supply buffer is in place while further procurement continues.
The government framed the push for Piped Natural Gas as a long-term policy to offer a safer, cheaper and more convenient option for households rather than a response to shortages. Domestic gas meets nearly half of daily needs and city gas distribution has expanded from 57 areas in 2014 to more than 300 today, the ministry said. Authorities also warned that spreading false information about essential commodities is a legal offence, and pledged to act against those deliberately creating panic while urging citizens to ignore unverified social media posts.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/india-oasis-of-energy-security-new-delhi-warns-against-deliberate-misinformation-on-oil-gas-supply-13993525.html
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Publish Date: 2026-03-26 16:34:00
