Govt reviews energy, shipping and citizen safety amid West Asia developments

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New Delhi, March 15: The Government of India reviewed preparedness across key sectors, including energy supply, maritime operations and the safety of Indian nationals, in view of the evolving situation in West Asia. According to an official statement, measures have been taken to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country, while authorities are closely monitoring maritime activity and maintaining contact with Indians in the region.

Fuel supply stable

All refineries in India are operating at high capacity and maintaining adequate crude oil inventories. The government said the country remains self-sufficient in petrol and diesel production and does not require imports to meet domestic demand. Oil Marketing Companies reported no fuel shortages at retail outlets, and supplies of petrol and diesel are continuing normally. Citizens have been advised not to panic-buy, as adequate stocks are available.

In the natural gas sector, priority supply is being ensured for PNG and CNG consumers, while supplies to industrial and commercial users are being regulated at around 80%. Consumers in major cities have been encouraged to shift from LPG to PNG wherever feasible. Senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas held a meeting with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board and City Gas Distribution companies on March 14 to review PNG connections and the transition from LPG.

LPG Supply and control measures

LPG availability is being closely monitored. No supply disruptions have been reported at LPG distributorships, while bookings have declined to about 77 lakh on March 14 compared with 88.8 lakh on March 13. Digital bookings have increased from 84% to around 87%. Consumers have been advised to use digital platforms such as IVRS, SMS, WhatsApp and mobile applications to book cylinders. The government has amended the LPG Control Order to require consumers who have PNG connections to surrender their domestic LPG connections, and new LPG connections will not be issued to PNG consumers. Booking intervals have also been revised to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas to ensure equitable distribution. Commercial LPG cylinders have been made available to state governments for priority use and are currently accessible in 30 states and Union Territories.

State monitoring and enforcement

State governments and Union Territories are reviewing the supply of essential fuels and preventing panic buying. High-level meetings have been held across several states to monitor LPG distribution. Control rooms have been established in 22 states and UTs to track the situation, while others are in the process of setting them up.

Authorities have also begun enforcement action against hoarding and black marketing. Raids are being conducted in several states, including Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, and officials of public sector oil companies are carrying out surprise inspections at LPG distributorships. To ease pressure on LPG supplies, the government has also provided an additional allocation of 48,000 kilolitres of kerosene to states and activated alternative fuels such as kerosene and coal for certain sectors, including hospitality.

Shipping operations and maritime safety

India is also monitoring maritime developments in the Gulf region to ensure the safety of vessels and seafarers. An Indian-flagged vessel, Jag Laadki, which was loading crude oil at the Fujairah terminal when the facility was attacked on March 14, sailed safely for India on Saturday carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude. All crew members on board are safe.

Two Indian-flagged LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying around 92,712 tonnes of LPG, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on March 14 and are currently en route to India. The vessels are expected to reach Mundra port on March 16 and Kandla port on March 17. At present, 22 Indian-flagged ships with 611 seafarers remain west of the Persian Gulf region. The Directorate General of Shipping is monitoring the situation and coordinating with shipowners and Indian missions.

Since the activation of its control room, the DG Shipping has handled nearly 3,000 phone calls and more than 5,300 emails from seafarers, their families and maritime stakeholders. A total of 276 Indian seafarers have been repatriated from the Gulf region so far. Ports across the country are also keeping a close watch on vessel movements and cargo operations.

Assistance for Indians in West Asia

The Ministry of External Affairs said Indian missions in the region are operating 24-hour helplines and maintaining contact with the Indian community. A dedicated MEA control room is responding to queries from Indian nationals and coordinating with state governments and other agencies. Indian missions are assisting stranded citizens and short-term visitors with visa support, logistics and transit arrangements. They are also in touch with local authorities regarding Indian seafarers. Since February 28, about 1.94 lakh passengers have returned to India from the region.

Flights continue to operate from several airports in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman, though schedules remain limited. Qatar Airways is operating restricted flights to India, while transit arrangements through Saudi Arabia are being facilitated for Indians in Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq where airspace remains closed. The government said the safety and well-being of Indian nationals in the region remain its highest priority. Five Indian nationals have been killed in the ongoing conflict and one person remains missing, with Indian missions working with local authorities on the matter.