Centre Lifts Gas Supply Curbs As LNG Flow From Middle East Resumes

The Indian government has withdrawn an order imposing curbs on gas suppliers as supply of liquefied natural gas has resumed from the Middle East, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a notification issued on Saturday. India in March invoked emergency measures to divert gas supplies from non-priority sectors to key users after the disruption of LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.Earlier this month, India lowered windfall taxes on exports of diesel and aviation turbine fuel, while raising the duty on petrol exports. The duty on diesel exports has been cut to 8.5 rupees per litre from 14 rupees, while the aviation ⁠turbine fuel duty has been set at 7.5 rupees/litre, down from 12.5 rupees. The export duty on petrol has been increased

to 4 rupees per litre from 1.5 rupees to ensure domestic supply.Notably, the ministry said that there is no change in the current excise duty rates on petrol and diesel meant for domestic consumption, ensuring that local retail prices remain unaffected.Also, the central government has lifted restrictions on the ‌sale of petrol and diesel from July 1. The government had imposed the restrictions earlier this month amid disruptions to global ⁠supply chains due to the US-Iran war.According to Union Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, the Oil marketing companies have incurred losses of Rs 74,781 crore after selling petrol, diesel and LPG below cost for the period up to June 30 when global crude oil prices spiked in the wake of the West Asia conflict. Puri explained that while international oil prices have eased in recent weeks, companies are still processing crude that was purchased at elevated rates during the peak of the West Asia crisis. Oil companies typically buy crude oil -- the raw material for producing fuel -- at least two months in advance. So, crude oil that is being processed now is essentially what was bought in April or early May when international prices were very high.