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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4133
ANSWERED ON - 30/03/2026
INDIA'S DIESEL EXPORT AMID DOMESTIC FUEL AVAILABILITY
4133 SMT. PRIYANKA CHATURVEDI:
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
(a) whether India has commenced supply of 5,000 mt of diesel to Bangladesh through the
Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline from Numaligarh Refinery, Assam, amid India's own
fuel shortage caused by West Asia conflict disruptions;
(b) whether Government has assessed the impact of such exports on India's own domestic
fuel availability and strategic reserves, given that India faces the same supply chain
disruptions; and
(c) whether Government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to ensure uninterrupted
domestic supply of petroleum products and if so, whether the measures
thereunder are sufficient to protect Indian households and businesses from supply
disruptions?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
(SHRI SURESH GOPI)
(a) & (b): Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement
with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) in 2017 for export of Gas Oil, primarily to
dispose of surplus HSD (gas oil) after meeting domestic demand. Under this agreement, a
parcel of 5,000 MT of gas oil was pumpedthrough the India–Bangladesh Product Pipeline
from Siliguri, West Bengal on 9thMarch 2026 and completed on 11th March 2026.
(c): Yes, in view of the on-going geopolitical developments in West Asia, which have
impacted the availability and distribution of LPG, Government in exercise of the powers
conferred by Section 3 of Essential Commodities Act, 1955, had issued/amended following
orders:
i. Under the Petroleum Products (Maintenance of Production, Storage and Supply)
Order, 1999,Government has issued order dated 09.03.2026 directing refineries and
petrochemical complexes to maximise LPG production by diverting propane,
butane, propylene and butenes streams to the LPG pool. As a result, domestic LPG
production has increased significantly. For non-domestic LPG, priority is being
given to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.
ii. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (regulation 23 of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000
amendment dated 14.03.2026 stating that no person having a piped natural gas
connection shall retain a domestic LPG connection or take refills of such connection
from any Government oil company and would be required to immediately surrender
their domestic LPG connectionTo address concerns regarding the availability of commercial LPG, on 16th March 2026
Government allocated emergency 20% commercial LPG supply and on 18th March 2026
allocated additional 10% of Commercial LPG to States/UTs based on ease of doing business
reforms for PNG expansion. On 21st March 2026, Government allowed additional 20%
allocation of commercial LPG to food industry and on 27th March 2026, further additional
20% allocation has been given to industries in essential sectors, which took overall allocation
to 70%. CGD entities have also been advised by Govt. of India to prioritize PNG connections
for commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels and canteens.
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