Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday assured Parliament that India faces no shortage of fuel despite disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Addressing the Lok Sabha, Puri said supplies of key fuels remain stable and fully available across the country.
“There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, ATF or fuel oil. The availability of petrol, diesel, aviation and fuel oil is fully assured,” the minister said while responding to concerns raised by members regarding possible supply disruptions.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route through which a significant portion of the world’s oil shipments pass, has been affected due to escalating hostilities in West Asia. The disruption triggered fears of supply shortages and rising fuel prices in many countries, including India.
However, Puri emphasised that India had taken timely measures to secure its energy supplies. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for diplomatic outreach that ensured alternative crude oil supplies.
According to the minister, India has managed to secure crude volumes exceeding what the disrupted Strait could have delivered during the same period.
“The world has not faced a moment of this kind in history. Despite India having no role in the conflict, it has to navigate the consequences,” Puri said.
He also addressed concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which has reportedly affected several restaurants and commercial establishments in parts of the country.
Puri assured that India’s crude oil and domestic LPG supplies remain protected and that the government is prioritising uninterrupted fuel access for households.
Also read: Centre working to control LPG shortage crisis: Suresh Gopi
Highlighting the steps taken by the government, the minister said ensuring that the kitchens of India’s nearly 33 crore families do not face any fuel shortage remains a top priority.
To strengthen supply resilience, India has diversified its LPG procurement sources beyond traditional Gulf suppliers.
Earlier, around 60 per cent of India’s LPG imports came from Gulf nations such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, while the remaining 40 per cent was produced domestically.
Puri said the country has now begun sourcing LPG cargoes from several other nations, including the United States, Norway, Canada, Algeria and Russia.
“It should be noted that India was previously importing approximately 60 per cent of its LPG requirements from Gulf countries… Procurement has now been actively diversified, with cargoes being secured from the United States, Norway, Canada, Algeria and Russia,” he said.
The minister also noted that domestic LPG production has been increased significantly in recent days.
“In the last five days, LPG production has been increased by 28 per cent through refinery directives, and further procurement is currently underway,” he told the House.
The assurance comes at a time when the ongoing West Asia conflict has raised global concerns over energy supply chains and the stability of oil markets.
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