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The Union Government urges the public to disregard rumors of fuel shortages amid the West Asia crisis. The Ministry of Petroleum assures uninterrupted supply and advises against panic buying. States are instructed to combat hoarding, while alternative fuel options are promoted.
Residents queue up with empty cylinders for LPG cooking gas refills at Lokhandwala Township, Kandiavli, Mumbai.(Hindustan Times)In light of the ongoing crisis in West Asia, the Union Government has urged the public not to pay heed to rumours about petroleum and gas shortages. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has reiterated that necessary measures are being taken to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country.
Avoid panic buying
According to the government, citizens should avoid panic purchases of fuel and avoid unnecessary bookings of LPG cylinders. For booking of LPG cylinders, the ministry urged the public to use digital modes and avoid visiting distributors, unless necessary.
Use alternative fuels
Further, the ministry said people should use alternate fuels such as PNG, induction and electric cooktops wherever feasible and make necessary efforts to conserve energy in their daily usage.
Alternate fuel options like Kerosene and coal have been offered to ease pressure on LPG demand, the ministry said.
The government also said that states have been advised to facilitate the new PNG connections for both domestic and commercial consumers.
Crackdown on hoarding of LPG
Under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the LPG Control Order, 2000, State Governments are empowered to act against any hoarding and black marketing.
The Centre has directed states and Union Territories to take strict action against hoarding and black marketing of petroleum products and LPG.
All states and UTs to intensify enforcement, conduct daily raids and inspections in coordination with oil marketing companies, and maintain strict vigilance against diversion and misinformation.
States have also been instructed to institutionalize daily press briefings, set up control rooms and helplines, and actively counter fake news to reassure the public about fuel availability.
According to the ministry, priority has been given to domestic LPG and PNG, along with hospitals and educational institutions.
Domestic LPG production
On the domestic production front, the government said all refineries are operating at high capacity, with adequate crude inventories in place. The country is also maintaining sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel.
“Domestic LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption,” the government said.
Safety of Indian seafarers
According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, it is closely monitoring shipping movements, port operations and the safety of Indian seafarers, while ensuring continuity of maritime trade.
“All Indian seafarers in the region are safe, and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours,” the ministry said.
It also stated that at present, a total of 18 Indian-flagged vessels with 485 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region.
DG Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 1130 Indian seafarers so far, including 155 in the last 24 hours, the ministry said.
Key Takeaways
- The government is actively managing fuel supply to prevent shortages amid the West Asia crisis.
- Citizens are encouraged to conserve energy and use alternative fuels where possible.
- Strict actions against hoarding and misinformation are being enforced to maintain public trust.
About the Author
Bobins Vayalil Abraham
Bobins loves telling the human side of all stories, from the intersection of geopolitics, international relations, and conflicts around the world. In his nearly one-and-a-half-decade career as a journalist, Bobins has covered South Asia, the Middle East, and North America, from elections to mass protests and conflicts. <br> Bobins has also done extensive reporting on environmental issues, climate change, and sustainability, focusing on solutions and people working to make the planet a better place to live. <br> In 2018, Bobins was awarded by Times Internet for the impact of his story on Delhi tree cuttings. Bobins also loves telling the stories of Indian startups and the journey of their founders. <br> Total Years of Experience: 14 <br> Years of experience at LM: Bobins has been a part of Live Mint since February 2026 <br> Interests: When he is not tracking conflicts, Bobins loves to cook, travel across India, click photos, and watch documentaries on history. Past Experience: Before joining Live Mint, Bobins worked with The Indian Express, where he led the Global Breaking News coverage, Indiatimes, where he led the news team, covering everything trending, ANI, where the focus of his coverage was South Asia, and NBS News. <br> Current Role: Bobins is currently working as an Assistant Editor at Live Mint.
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