Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday soothed concerns over energy supplies across the country, saying that fuel and cooking gas supplies remain stable. Addressing the CII Annual Business Summit, Puri said that the country currently holds crude oil and LNG reserves sufficient for 69 days, while LPG stocks can last 45 days, dismissing concerns over any immediate supply disruption.“There is no supply issue, have 69 days of crude oil, LNG stock and 45 days of LPG stock,” he said.To further secure cooking gas availability, the government has sharply ramped up LPG production, raising daily output from 35,000-36,000 tonnes to 54,000 tonnes in response to the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.“LPG production has been ramped up from 35,000-36,000 tonnes/day to 54,000 tonnes amid West Asia conflict,” minister Puri said.He further added that the government had managed with the crisis responsibly so far and ensured uninterrupted availability across the country.“We managed the crisis with responsibility; there have been no droughts anywhere,” he said.Puri also reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent call for austerity to the broader economic pressures created by the conflict, saying it should prompt citizens and policymakers alike to consider ways to reduce the financial burden.“PM Narendra Modi’s austerity appeal is a wake up call to start thinking of measures to ease fiscal strain from West Asia conflict,” he said.Earlier on Sunday, PM Modi had outlined several steps aimed at conserving foreign exchange and reducing economic strain, including cutting petrol and diesel use, opting for metro travel in cities, carpooling, increasing the use of electric vehicles, shifting parcel transport to railways, and working from home where possible.He also urged people to delay gold purchases and foreign travel for a year as part of wider efforts to protect the economy during the Middle East crisis.
