India’s energy supply fully secure; govt flags coordinated misinformation campaign

New Delhi, March 26: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Thursday asserted that India’s fuel and gas supplies remain fully secure, dismissing reports of shortages as part of a “deliberate and coordinated misinformation campaign” aimed at triggering public panic.
In an official statement, the Ministry clarified that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, or LPG anywhere in the country, and all retail outlets continue to operate normally without any rationing.
No Shortage of Petrol, Diesel
The government underscored that India’s position as the world’s fourth-largest refiner and fifth-largest exporter of petroleum products ensures structural energy security. With over one lakh fuel stations operational nationwide, authorities confirmed that supplies remain uninterrupted and sufficient.
It also rejected claims of fuel rationing, stating that no such directives have been issued. Isolated incidents of long queues at select outlets were attributed to panic buying triggered by misleading content circulating on social media.
To address temporary demand spikes, oil companies have ramped up logistics operations and extended credit limits to fuel stations, ensuring uninterrupted availability.
Crude Supply Stable Despite Global Disruptions
Addressing concerns related to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry said India has diversified sourcing across more than 40 global suppliers. Increased imports from alternative regions have more than compensated for any shortfall.
“All refineries are operating at over 100% capacity, and crude supplies for the next 60 days have already been secured,” the statement noted, adding that there is no supply gap.
Adequate Strategic Reserves
Refuting claims that India has only a few days of fuel reserves, the Ministry clarified that the country currently maintains around 60 days of stock cover, including crude, refined products, and strategic reserves.
This, officials said, ensures continuity of supply even amid prolonged global disruptions, making any claims of depleted reserves “baseless and misleading.”
LPG Supply Strengthened
The government also dismissed reports of LPG shortages, stating that domestic production has been increased by 40%, now meeting more than 60% of daily demand.
Additional imports—amounting to 800 thousand metric tonnes—have already been secured from countries including the United States, Russia, and Australia. These supplies are being handled through 22 import terminals across the country.
Daily LPG distribution remains steady at around 50 lakh cylinders, with earlier spikes attributed to panic ordering. Measures have also been taken to prevent hoarding and black marketing.
PNG Expansion Part of Long-Term Strategy
The Ministry clarified that the promotion of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is part of a long-term transition towards cleaner and more affordable energy, not a response to any shortage.
India currently produces nearly half of its natural gas requirements domestically, and the expansion of city gas networks has significantly increased household access in recent years.
Warning Against Fake News
Expressing concern over the spread of misinformation, the government warned that misleading videos and posts—often using unrelated global footage or misrepresenting official orders—are creating a false narrative of crisis.
The Ministry urged citizens to rely only on official sources for accurate information and cautioned that spreading false information about essential commodities is punishable under law.
“The government will not hesitate to take action against those deliberately attempting to create panic,” the statement said.