As worries grow over rising tensions in West Asia and their possible impact on global energy supplies, India’s Petroleum Minister has sought to calm fears, saying there is no shortage of fuel in the country and no reason for panic.
Speaking at the CII Annual Business Summit 2026, India’s Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, said India’s energy supplies remain secure despite geopolitical uncertainty and military tensions involving major oil-producing regions.
“There is no problem on the supply management side, no shortage anywhere,” Puri said, pushing back against growing concerns over fuel availability.
Puri said India is well-prepared to handle any short-term disruptions and currently has sufficient energy reserves in place.
“We have 60 days of crude, which is the maximum we need. We have 60 days of LNG and we have 45 days of LPG. So there’s no problem on the supply side,” he said.
The minister questioned why concerns had suddenly increased in recent days and urged people not to misread the government’s message around energy conservation.
“So why this panic since yesterday for a day and a half?” Puri asked. “Please see what the honourable Prime Minister has actually said, and let’s not put a bizarre construct on it.”
His remarks came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption amid global uncertainty. The Prime Minister encouraged people to use public transport where possible, share vehicles through carpooling and cut back on avoidable petrol and diesel use.
According to the government, such steps could help reduce India’s energy import bill and strengthen the country’s ability to deal with disruptions caused by conflicts involving oil-producing nations.
While assuring citizens that supplies remain stable, Puri also pointed to the financial pressure being faced by oil companies.
“If you look at the fiscal situation, my oil companies are losing Rs 1,000 crore every day,” he said, adding that under-recoveries could rise close to Rs 2 lakh crore.
He said India has managed to shield consumers from sharp fuel price increases despite volatility in global crude markets.
In a post on X, Puri said India remains one of the few countries that has not increased petrol and diesel prices for four years, even as several nations continue to struggle with severe energy shortages.
“India’s energy consumers face no crisis,” Puri wrote. “India’s energy sector is fully secure and robust.”
Puri also criticised what he described as unnecessary fear and speculation around India’s energy situation.
He said that India had remained fully prepared even as geopolitical tensions unfolded, with coordinated energy planning helping maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies to millions of citizens.