India Maintains Adequate Fuel and Fertilizer Supplies Amid Regional Conflict
Indian officials confirm sufficient stocks of fuel and fertilizers, ensuring stability despite escalating tensions in West Asia.
Indian authorities have assured the public of sufficient fuel and fertilizer supplies amid escalating tensions in West Asia. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, stated on Monday that the country has adequate stocks of petrol, diesel, and LPG, with no reports of shortages from LPG distributors. She noted that over the past two days, 10.4 million LPG bookings were made, resulting in 9.2 million deliveries.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, reported that 18 vessels with 485 seafarers are currently in the Persian Gulf. He emphasized that the priority is to ensure the safe return of these ships.
Aparna Sharma, Additional Secretary at the Department of Fertilizer, highlighted that India has 18 million metric tons of fertilizers in stock, an increase from 14.7 million metric tons the previous year. She mentioned ongoing efforts to diversify sourcing, with supplies being procured from countries including Russia, Morocco, Australia, Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Canada.
The government is also engaging with high-tech industry associations to assess the impact of the West Asia conflict on the ecosystem. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that industry bodies have not reported any adverse effects on their operations so far. He noted that the situation is evolving and that the government will continue to interact with the industry to monitor developments.
In the political arena, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accusing the opposition party of making remarks that could endanger Indians living in the Gulf. She emphasized the need for unity and called for a parliamentary discussion to address the challenges arising from the conflict.
The ongoing conflict has also affected global markets, with oil prices surging above $116 per barrel due to escalating tensions and attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants on Israel. The Brent crude benchmark rose 3.3% to $116.25, reflecting market anxiety as the conflict entered its fifth week with no signs of resolution.
Additionally, the Israeli military reported that a soldier was killed in combat in southern Lebanon, bringing the total number of troops killed since fighting with Hezbollah started earlier in March to six.
