New Delhi, May 21: India has sufficient reserves of petrol and diesel, and the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) remains normal, according to government sources. This information was released on Thursday.
Government sources addressed concerns regarding several petrol pumps that were either not dispensing fuel or limiting quantities. They confirmed that actions are being taken to remove restrictions at these locations.
Additionally, the sudden spike in fuel demand at some petrol pumps has been attributed to three primary factors. The first is the harvest season, which typically increases diesel demand. The second factor is the higher prices charged by private fuel companies, prompting customers to shift towards government suppliers.
This shift is due to the pricing of institutional and commercial fuels, which are aligned with international crude oil prices and are currently about ₹20 per liter higher.
Moreover, sources indicated that the government has not reduced its purchases of Russian crude oil. Previously, V.R.K. Gupta, Director of Finance at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), stated that amid the Middle East crisis, the company has increased its imports from Russia. Currently, Russian crude accounts for approximately 41% of the company’s total imports, up from 31% in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 (January to March).
In an interaction with the media, Gupta explained that due to tensions in the Middle East, the company has diversified its sourcing, particularly increasing purchases from Russia. Earlier, in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 (October to December 2025), Russian crude made up about 25% of the company’s import basket.
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