India is prepared for the global fuel crisis and has no plans to impose a lockdown despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
These assurances come as the war between the U.S. and Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil. Because India relies heavily on energy imports, any disruption to these corridors threatens economic stability and domestic fuel availability.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said there is no shortage of crude oil, PNG, or LPG in India [1]. He addressed the concerns in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and said the government is managing the supply chain to prevent domestic disruptions [2].
"There are no plans to impose a lockdown in India despite concerns over the ongoing West Asia crisis and rising pressure on global energy markets," Puri said [3].
At the time of his statement on May 18, 2026, the conflict in West Asia had lasted 80 days [4]. Puri said this is the second major war India has had to navigate in the last four years, following the conflict in Russia [5].
"It is going to be 80 days since the war in West Asia started. In the last four years, this is the second major war after Russia," Puri said [6].
The minister's comments aim to stabilize markets and reassure citizens against rumors of fuel rationing or movement restrictions. While the closure of the Strait of Hormuz creates significant pressure on global energy markets, the ministry maintains that strategic reserves and alternative sourcing are sufficient to meet national demand [2].
“"There is no shortage of crude oil, PNG, LPG in India."”
India's energy security is under significant stress due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for a large portion of the world's oil. By explicitly denying the possibility of lockdowns and fuel shortages, the government is attempting to prevent panic buying and economic volatility that often accompany geopolitical instability in oil-producing regions.
