The detention period between two LPG cylinders has been extended from 21 days to 25 days to prevent people from hoarding the cylinders and marketing them black, ANI news agency reported, citing government sources.
The move comes at a time when people were reportedly seizing LPG cylinders a few days ago. “There have been instances where people who were earlier booking LPG cylinders within 55 days started booking the cylinders within 15 days,” the report quoted the sources as saying on Monday.
The sources also added that the government ordered refineries to increase LPG production and keep domestic consumption as a priority.
“Domestic consumers will always be a priority,” the sources said, as India seeks to onboard more LPG partners, with countries such as Algeria, Australia, Canada and Norway approaching India to sell LPG.
“No gasoline and a shortage of diesel”
Talking about the growing concern among people over the possible rise in petrol and diesel prices amid the ongoing war in West Asia, sources said this is unlikely unless crude oil prices cross the $130 per barrel level. They also added that India has sufficient stocks and petrol and diesel prices are unlikely to rise.
“We expect crude oil prices to reach about $100 per barrel,” one of the sources said. “There is no problem of shortage of petrol and diesel at any pump in the country,” they added.
However, oil prices rose on Monday to around $120 a barrel as the war in Iran refused to spread.
Emphasizing that India is in a better position compared to other countries in view of the current geopolitical tensions, the sources said there is no need to panic about Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) as India has sufficient stock of it as well.
“India is a producer and exporter of ATF, there is no need to panic about ATF,” they said.
With the Strait of Hormuz still closed due to the ongoing war between Iran, the United States and Israel, the sources said that India has accelerated access to crude oil through other routes.
