Diesel shortage hitting India's freight network? 'We travelled nearly 80 kms for diesel...' - Trucks queue up in roadside lanes as fuel pumps run dry

Diesel Shortage in India: Even as the Indian government has been reassuring that the country has sufficient fuel inventories and has no plan to ration petrol, diesel, or LPG supplies despite ongoing disruptions in global energy markets, a grim picture of a probable diesel shortage has come to light.

Outside a service station near Nagpur, the geographic centre of India, nearly 30 trucks line the highway, transporting cargo ranging from apparel and snacks to Amazon deliveries and railway equipment, as per a report of Bloomberg News.

Most of these vehicles have been waiting for hours or longer.

India has enough petrol, diesel and LPG stocks: Oil Secretary

Addressing the CII Annual Business Summit on Monday, as reported by news agency PTI, Oil Secretary Neeraj Mittal said the country has maintained adequate fuel and LPG stocks during the ongoing West Asia crisis and has diversified imports to manage supply risks.

“There is no need to panic. There are sufficient supplies. There is no rationing in place. It's not going to happen,” Mittal said.

He further said India has maintained around 60 days of fuel inventories and nearly 45 days of LPG stocks over the past 67 days of market disruption.

Fuel operators have either cut diesel sales or increased prices

The private gas-pump retailers have either cut diesel sales or increased prices as global oil costs surge, forcing state-run refiners to shoulder a massive spike in demand. A rise in government-controlled rates is now finally expected - the first in four years - and the rush to fill up has only become more frenzied.

For the truckers responsible for ferrying the bulk of India’s freight, the situation has resulted in days of searching for fuel and enduring long waits on roadsides under the scorching heat.

“We have travelled nearly 80 kilometers (50 miles) looking for diesel. We checked at 15-16 pumps, but there was no diesel to be found,” said Surya Kant Kendre, as quoted by Bloomberg News, sitting on a Nagpur curb by his coal truck earlier this week, squinting in the scorching sun.

“Finally when the tank became nearly empty, we were forced to halt here," Kendre added.

The manager of the fuel station, who declined to give his name as he isn’t authorised to speak to media, said, as quoted by Bloomber News, he is typically able to supply just a third of demand — with fuel running out before most customers are satisfied.

Earlier on Tuesday, Oil Minister Hardeep Puri said there was no shortage of fuel. “There are no dry outs. Every petrol pump in the country has petrol and diesel,” he assured.