Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said India faces no fuel shortage and maintains sufficient stock levels.
These assurances come as the government seeks to dispel public panic and rumors of a crisis triggered by global crude price spikes and regional tensions in the Hormuz strait. Stability in fuel supply is critical for India's economy, which relies heavily on diversified energy imports to maintain industrial and domestic operations.
Speaking in Parliament in New Delhi in late April 2024, Puri said the country possesses sufficient crude oil due to its diversified supply sources [2]. He said that supply chains remain stable and that the government has taken a financial hit to shield citizens from price volatility [2].
"We have no supply-side problems," Puri said. "Today, the country has more than enough stocks of crude oil, LNG and LPG" [1].
Regarding liquefied petroleum gas, Puri said that domestic LPG production previously stood at 36,000 metric tons per day [1]. He said that LPG output has since increased by 28% [4]. The minister said that current demand spikes are being driven by panic buying rather than a systemic lack of supply [4].
However, the minister's nationwide assessment contrasts with reports from specific regions. MP Dr. M. Gurumurthy said to the Deccan Chronicle that Andhra Pradesh is facing a fuel shortage and requested immediate central intervention [6].
Despite these localized claims, the ministry maintains that the broader national infrastructure is secure. The government continues to monitor the Iran-Hormuz situation to ensure that energy corridors remain open and that the diversified sourcing strategy prevents any singular point of failure in the supply chain [3].
“"We have no supply-side problems. Today, the country has more than enough stocks of crude oil, LNG and LPG."”
The tension between the Union Minister's national outlook and the reports from Andhra Pradesh suggests a possible gap between central inventory data and last-mile distribution. While India's strategic reserves and diversified imports may protect the country from a total blackout, localized logistical bottlenecks or panic-driven hoarding can still create regional crises that undermine public confidence in the government's energy security claims.
