Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday said India is not facing any shortage of petroleum products despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia that has raised concerns in global energy markets.
Speaking to reporters, Shekhawat said the war-like situation in the Middle East has posed challenges for several countries, but India has managed the situation by diversifying its crude oil import sources.
“There is no crisis regarding petroleum products in India. The war-like situation in the Middle East has posed a challenge before all countries,” he said.
Referring to the regional impact of the conflict, the minister said some neighbouring countries are facing disruptions. “An emergency-like situation prevails in Pakistan, while schools and colleges have been closed in Bangladesh,” he said.
Highlighting India’s supply strategy, Shekhawat said the government has expanded its crude oil sourcing network in recent years.
“Earlier, we used to import crude oil from about 27 countries. Now we have arrangements with around 40 countries for crude oil imports. We have diversified our supply lines,” he said.
Officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said earlier that LPG supplies to domestic households remain uninterrupted, with deliveries also being ensured for hospitals and educational institutions.
Domestic LPG production has increased by around 30 per cent compared with March 5 levels, officials said, adding that commercial cylinders have been placed at the disposal of state governments for priority distribution.
The issue has also triggered political exchanges, with Rahul Gandhi criticising the government and claiming that India’s energy security has been affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the West Asia conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key global energy chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass.
