4 days ago
6
ARTICLE AD BOX
The Centre has decided to lift temporary restrictions on the sale of petrol and diesel from July 1, ending curbs imposed earlier this month to prevent local fuel shortages amid disruptions to global supply chains caused by the conflict in the Middle East.A government order issued on Monday said that restrictions, introduced as an emergency measure, will cease to be in force from July 1.The curbs were imposed on June 12, when the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas barred industrial, commercial and institutional consumers from purchasing petrol and diesel from retail fuel stations, directing them instead to procure fuel from authorised bulk suppliers.The ministry issued the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Temporary Regulation of Supply through Retail Outlets) Order, 2026, instructing oil marketing companies and fuel retailers to restrict bulk purchases from retail outlets for a period of up to 90 days.The government had said the decision was taken in response to "the current prevailing geopolitical situation affecting certain regions of the world", which had disrupted international petroleum supply chains, shipping logistics and the availability of petroleum products.
It also cited "extraordinary demand growth", particularly for diesel, after bulk consumers shifted their purchases to retail fuel stations because of significant price differences.
The price gap emerged after state-owned oil marketing companies adjusted retail fuel prices to shield ordinary consumers from the impact of rising global crude oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict. While retail prices remained lower, bulk consumers, including industries, telecom tower operators and firms using diesel for power generation, continued to pay market-linked rates.To avoid shortages for individual consumers, the Centre had also capped daily diesel purchases at retail outlets and prohibited commercial fuel buyers from sourcing petrol and diesel from petrol pumps during the restriction period.
English (US) ·