‘No shortage of fuel’: Hardeep Puri assures Parliament amid Strait of Hormuz closure

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday assured Parliament that India is not facing any shortage of fuel despite growing global concerns following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Addressing the Lok Sabha, the minister said the availability of petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel and fuel oil in the country remains fully secure.

Puri stated that India’s crude oil and domestic LPG supplies are protected even as the ongoing conflict in West Asia disrupts global energy supply routes. He acknowledged that the current global situation is unprecedented and said India has to navigate its consequences despite not being directly involved in the conflict.

Highlighting the government’s preparedness, the minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic outreach for helping India secure crude oil volumes that exceed what would have been delivered through the disrupted Strait of Hormuz during the same period.

Puri also outlined the steps taken to prevent any LPG shortage for households. He said ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply for the kitchens of India’s 33 crore families remains a priority for the government amid the global energy disruption.

The minister added that India has diversified its LPG procurement to reduce dependence on Gulf suppliers. According to him, the country is now sourcing LPG cargoes from the United States, Norway, Canada, Algeria and Russia, while domestic production has been increased by 28 percent through refinery directives in recent days.