An employee puts a banner that reads No Petrol at a filling station in Guwahati.
Petrol, diesel shortage news: A few days back long queues snaked around petrol pumps after rumours of a shortage forced people to rush to their nearest station in Ahmedabad. Similar scenes were witnessed elsewhere too. In the past few days, some areas have reported a big increase in instances of rush at the PSU retail outlets. This has led to delays and increased waiting time for customers. This has, in turn, led to speculation of supply constraints by the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies.
The government, however, said sufficient supplies of petrol and diesel are being made available to cater to the extra demand and there is sufficient fuel to take care of any demand surge.
Also Read | Petrol, diesel shortage news: Oil companies quell rumours, say 'fuel supply normal'
Price of petrol and diesel in different cities on June 15, 2022.
Here's what the govt said
- It is a fact that at specific locations in some states, there has been a significant increase in demand for petrol and diesel, with an increase being as high as 50% during the first half of June 2022 over corresponding period of last year.
- In particular, this has been noticed in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. T
- hese are States where large quantity of supply was being done by Retail Outlets belonging to Private Marketing Companies and where the distances from Supply locations i.e. Terminals and Depots are longer.
- In general, the increase in demand has been on account of the seasonal surge in demand due to agricultural activities, bulk buyers having shifted their purchases to Retail outlets, and a substantial reduction in the sales by private marketing companies with their substantial volumes having shifted to PSU ROs.
- Simultaneously, as a result of a crackdown by the Government on illegal Bio-Diesel sales, these volumes have also been added to the RO Diesel sale.
- The production of petrol and diesel in the country is more than sufficient to take care of any demand surge. This unprecedented growth has created some temporary logistics issues at the local level.
- Oil Companies have geared up to tackle these issues by increasing the stocks at the depots and terminals
- Extra movement of tank, trucks and lorries are being arranged to serve the retail outlets
- Extended working hours of depots and terminals including at night, to cater to the extra demand, and provision of extra quantities of fuels for supply in the affected states.
- The companies are ensuring that sufficient supplies of Petrol and Diesel are available to cater to this extra demand, and they are committed to fulfill the energy needs of the nation.
Recently, hundreds of two and four-wheelers were witnessed at most of the petrol pumps around midnight in Gujarat's Ahmedabad following a rumour on social media about a possible strike of petrol pump owners. There was also a rumour that Saudi Arabia has stopped the supply of crude oil to India.
Also Read | Ahmedabad: Thousands queue up at petrol pumps after rumours on whatsapp | Know more
