Govt Assures Fuel Supply Stability Amid West Asia Crisis

New Delhi, April 15 (BNP) – The government on Tuesday said fuel supplies remain stable despite disruptions linked to the evolving West Asia situation, urging citizens to avoid panic buying and rely on official updates.

According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG, with 100% supply being maintained for domestic LPG, PNG and CNG. Measures have been taken to prioritise essential sectors, including hospitals and agriculture, while ensuring continued availability for households.

To ease pressure on LPG demand, the government is promoting alternative fuels such as PNG, kerosene and electric cooking options. Since March 2026, about 4.40 lakh PNG connections have been activated, with another 4.88 lakh consumers registering for new connections.

The government has also stepped up enforcement against hoarding and black marketing. Over 2,950 raids were conducted across the country on April 13, with penalties imposed on erring distributors and several licences suspended.

Officials said more than 14.3 lakh 5-kg LPG cylinders have been sold since March 23 to support migrant workers and vulnerable groups, while commercial LPG supply has been increased to around 70% of pre-crisis levels.

States and Union Territories have been asked to closely monitor supply and take action under the Essential Commodities Act to prevent shortages and misinformation. Control rooms and district-level monitoring systems have been activated nationwide.

Meanwhile, the government said all refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude stocks, and retail fuel outlets are functioning normally. Port operations across India also remain unaffected, with no congestion reported.

The Centre added that it is closely monitoring developments in the region while coordinating with states and international partners to ensure energy security and the safety of Indian nationals abroad.