India
oi-Ashish Rana
The Centre has decided to withdraw temporary restrictions on the sale of petrol and diesel from July 1 after reviewing the country’s fuel supply situation. The emergency measures were introduced earlier this month as a precaution against possible disruptions caused by the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran and concerns over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Effective July 1, the Centre will withdraw temporary restrictions on petrol and diesel sales, initially imposed due to geopolitical energy supply concerns. Commercial LPG supplies are restored, bulk LPG limits eased, while the policy encouraging Piped Natural Gas (PNG) usage for industrial users continues.
Emergency Fuel Restrictions To Be Withdrawn
The temporary curbs were aimed at protecting domestic fuel availability in case the conflict affected global energy supply chains. During this period, commercial consumers were not allowed to purchase petrol and diesel from retail fuel stations.
Authorities had also imposed daily limits on diesel purchases to ensure that adequate supplies remained available for the general public. The measures were taken as a preventive step amid uncertainty surrounding fuel imports and international shipping routes.
Government Restores Commercial LPG Supplies
The government had already begun easing restrictions last week by restoring commercial LPG supplies to normal levels. The temporary limits, introduced after the conflict disrupted global energy supply chains, had prioritised household cooking gas supplies over commercial demand.
As a result, hotels, restaurants, bakeries and several industries were forced to rely on diesel and coal-based alternatives due to reduced LPG allocations.
Bulk LPG Restrictions Partially Relaxed
With fuel supplies stabilising, the Centre directed oil marketing companies to resume full supplies of non-domestic packed LPG cylinders. It also partially relaxed restrictions on bulk LPG, allowing commercial consumers to access up to 50 per cent of their pre-crisis consumption levels.
The move is expected to provide relief to businesses that had been operating under supply constraints for several months.
PNG Policy To Continue
Despite easing LPG restrictions, the government has made it clear that commercial and industrial consumers who have already switched to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) will not be permitted to return to LPG usage.
The decision aligns with the Centre’s ongoing policy of encouraging wider adoption of PNG as a cleaner and more efficient fuel alternative while ensuring stable energy supplies across sectors.
