New Delhi: The Government held an inter-ministerial briefing on Monday to review the West Asia situation, stating that fuel supplies remain stable and measures are in place to ensure the safety of Indian nationals in the region.
Officials from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and External Affairs shared updates at the National Media Centre. The briefing focused on energy supply, maritime operations and the welfare of Indians in West Asia and the Gulf region.
The Petroleum Ministry said all refineries were operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude oil inventories. India remains self-sufficient in petrol and diesel production, and domestic demand does not require imports.
Oil marketing companies also reported no fuel shortages at retail outlets. Authorities advised citizens not to resort to panic buying, as petrol and diesel supplies remain adequate across the country.
Meanwhile, the government continued to monitor LPG supply in view of the prevailing geopolitical developments. Officials confirmed that no LPG distributorship had reported shortages.
Online LPG cylinder bookings increased from about 84 percent to nearly 90 percent. In addition, the Delivery Authentication Code system expanded from 53 percent coverage before the crisis to around 72 percent to prevent diversion of cylinders.
Domestic LPG production from refineries also increased by about 36 percent to support demand. The government has prioritised supply to households and essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.
West Asia situation prompts shipping monitoring and citizen support
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said all Indian seafarers in the region remain safe and no incidents were reported in the past 24 hours. Currently, 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers are operating west of the Persian Gulf.
Two LPG carriers that crossed the Strait of Hormuz on March 14 are expected to reach India shortly. The vessel Shivalik will berth at Mundra Port later today, while Nanda Devi is expected to arrive tomorrow morning.
Another Indian vessel, Jag Laadki, carrying about 80,800 metric tonnes of Murban crude oil from the UAE, is sailing safely toward India.
Meanwhile, State governments have stepped up enforcement measures to prevent hoarding and black marketing of fuel and LPG. Authorities conducted raids in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Mizoram.
Officials from public sector oil marketing companies also carried out surprise inspections at more than 1,100 fuel outlets and LPG distributorships to ensure regular supply.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the safety of Indians in the region remains the government’s top priority. Over 550 Indian nationals in Iran crossed into Armenia through the land border with assistance from the Indian Embassy in Tehran, while more than 90 crossed into Azerbaijan.
The embassy in Tehran remains fully operational and continues to assist Indian citizens. Missions across the region are maintaining 24-hour helplines and coordinating with local authorities.
Since February 28, about 2,20,000 passengers have returned to India from West Asia and the Gulf region.
Officials said the government continues to monitor developments closely while coordinating among ministries to safeguard national interests and ensure preparedness across sectors.
