As fuel prices continue to rise amid escalating tensions in West Asia, anxious motorists across several Indian cities rushed to petrol pumps, triggering unusually long queues at fuel stations. However, India’s leading public sector oil companies have assured consumers that there is no disruption in fuel availability and urged people not to indulge in panic buying.
State-run oil marketing firms, Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, issued separate statements on Thursday emphasising that petrol, diesel and LPG supplies remain sufficient across the country.
Responding to the situation, IOCL reassured customers that fuel distribution networks were functioning efficiently. “Fuel supplies across IndianOil’s retail network remain stable. IndianOil has not issued any instructions for the rationing of fuels at retail outlets, and supply operations across the country continue smoothly,” the firm said.
“The recent increase in demand is driven by higher diesel consumption during the harvesting season. Additional demand pressure has also emerged due to a shift of customers to IndianOil retail outlets owing to comparatively lower prices than private retailers, along with a visible shift of institutional and commercial consumers to retail fuel outlets. Customers are requested to avoid panic buying and rely only on official IndianOil communication channels for accurate updates. IndianOil remains committed to ensuring reliable fuel availability across the country,” it added.
BPCL also appealed to consumers to avoid unnecessary stocking of LPG cylinders and fuel. The company stressed that supplies remain uninterrupted despite rumours circulating on social media.
“Customers are encouraged to book LPG through official online channels, as per normal requirement, and avoid panic booking or unnecessary stocking. There is no need to pay attention to rumours, supply remains steady and deliveries are being carried out smoothly. Simple steps like sharing OTP only at the time of delivery and using LPG judiciously help ensure a secure and uninterrupted experience for all,” BPCL said.
Meanwhile, HPCL described reports claiming fuel shortages as “misleading” and clarified that operations at retail outlets remain normal nationwide.
According to HPCL, the sudden crowding at select pumps is linked more to seasonal demand in May and pricing differences between public and private fuel stations rather than any actual shortage.
“The temporary increase in customer numbers and queues at some locations is primarily due to the seasonal demand surge during the month of May. Additionally, many customers are preferring HPCL retail outlets because fuel is being sold at relatively higher prices at some private retail outlets. Due to these reasons, higher-than-normal sales are being recorded at some outlets. However, adequate stock is available, and the supply system is functioning smoothly,” HPCL added.