New Delhi [India], March 19 (ANI): The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Thursday said that all refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories in place, and that sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained across the country. No cases of fuel dry-outs have been reported at any retail outlets by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

The government held an inter-ministerial briefing to update on the current situation regarding the availability of essential commodities, particularly fuel and gas, amidst the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Speaking at an Inter-Ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, reiterated the government's advice to the public not to resort to panic buying, as adequate fuel stocks are available and supplies are being maintained regularly.

Regarding natural gas, priority sectors have been protected for their supplies, including 100 per cent supply to domestic piped natural gas (D-PNG) and CNG-Transport. Supplies to industrial and commercial consumers connected on the grid are maintained at 80 per cent of their average consumption.

The government has advised City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities to prioritise PNG connections for commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels, and canteens across all their geographical areas (GAs) to address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG.

The government has also requested States and Union Territories to issue deemed permission for pending applications for laying CGD pipelines, mandate approval of all new CGD permissions within 24 hours, waive off road restoration and permission charges levied by state or local authorities, relax working hours and working seasons, and appoint state nodal officers for support, coordination, and faster implementation.

Additionally, the government has offered an additional 10 per cent allocation of commercial LPG to states that can help in the long-term transition from LPG to PNG.

The government is taking strict measures to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG, including conducting raids and surprise checks at petrol pumps, LPG distributorships, and storage points.PSU OMCs officials are also conducting surprise inspections at over 2000 RO and LPG distributorships daily across the country to ensure smooth supplies and check any hoarding or black marketing cases.

The government has given the highest priority to the domestic LPG and PNG sector, along with high-priority hospitals and educational institutions. Alternate fuel options like kerosene and coal have been offered to ease pressure on LPG demand.

The government has advised states to facilitate new PNG connections for both domestic and commercial consumers and has proposed a 10 per cent additional allocation of commercial LPG to states facilitating and expediting the process. The public is advised to avoid panic bookings, use digital modes for bookings, and avoid visiting LPG distributors.

Citizens are also requested to use alternate fuels like PNG, induction/electric cooktops, etc., and make necessary efforts to conserve energy in their daily usage. The government is making all efforts to ensure the availability and deliveries of LPG cylinders for all households and has set up control rooms to monitor the situation.

States and UTs have been requested to establish helpline numbers and ensure their wide publicity at regular intervals. The government has designated the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) as the nodal agency for the collection, compilation, maintenance, and analysis of information regarding petroleum products and natural gas.

The government has also issued advisories to prevent panic buying, encourage judicious use of LPG, and disseminate accurate information. Overall, the government is taking all necessary measures to ensure the availability of essential commodities and maintain normalcy in the country. (ANI)