The Government of India, on March 14, held the fourth inter-ministerial media interaction at the National Media Centre to provide updates on the situation arising from recent developments in West Asia, informed the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

The briefing urged citizens not to panic book LPG cylinders, assuring that adequate stocks of fuel and cooking gas are available across the country despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia

Senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shared updates on energy supply, maritime operations, the welfare of Indian nationals in the region and related communication measures.

Energy Supply and Fuel Availability

Officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said that all refineries in the country are operating at high capacity and maintaining sufficient crude oil inventories. India is currently self-sufficient in petrol and diesel production and does not require imports to meet domestic demand.

Oil marketing companies also confirmed that no fuel shortages have been reported at retail outlets and supplies are continuing normally.

In the natural gas sector, priority categories such as PNG and CNG consumers are receiving full supply without cuts, while industrial and commercial consumers are receiving about 80 per cent of their usual supply.

Supply of LPG still a concern in view of prevailing geopolitical situation

The government said LPG availability remains under close monitoring due to the prevailing geopolitical situation, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. While no LPG distributorships have reported dry-outs, daily cylinder bookings have surged sharply due to panic buying, rising from an average of 55.7 lakh bookings to 88.8 lakh on Friday.

To manage demand, the government has increased LPG production from refineries by about 31 per cent and advised consumers to use digital platforms such as IVRS, SMS, WhatsApp and mobile applications for bookings instead of visiting LPG agencies.

Authorities also urged households to book cylinders only as per their normal refill cycle.

State governments and Union Territories have stepped up monitoring to prevent hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities. Enforcement teams conducted inspections and raids in several states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Karnataka.

In Uttar Pradesh alone, 1,483 locations were inspected, leading to 24 FIRs, six arrests and prosecution against 19 individuals.

Seventeen states and Union Territories have also established control rooms to monitor fuel supply and distribution.

Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play

Maritime operations and energy transit

Officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said maritime operations remain stable. Two Indian-flagged LPG carriers —Shivalik and Nanda Devi — carrying about 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG crossed the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday and are scheduled to arrive at Mundra and Kandla ports on March 16 and 17.

Currently, 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers are operating in the Persian Gulf region. Authorities said no new incidents involving Indian seafarers have been reported in the past 24 hours.

Major ports have been instructed to prioritise berthing for LPG vessels to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies.

Safety of Indian Nationals

The Ministry of External Affairs said India continues to engage diplomatically with countries in the region, including Gulf Cooperation Council states, Iran, the United States and Israel, calling for de-escalation and safe maritime transit.

Since February 28, about 1.72 lakh passengers have returned to India from the region amid flight disruptions. Indian missions are operating round-the-clock helplines to assist nationals with visas, transit arrangements and evacuation support.

Authorities also confirmed that several Indian seafarers involved in earlier maritime incidents have been safely evacuated.

Warning on misinformation

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting warned that fake messages and AI-generated videos are circulating on social media regarding fuel shortages. Citizens were urged to rely only on official government sources for updates.

Reiterating its commitment to energy security, the government said coordinated measures are in place to maintain fuel supply, safeguard maritime operations and ensure the safety of Indian citizens in the region.