Inter-Ministerial Committee held press briefing on recent developments in West Asia: Key takeaways to know

West Asia Crisis: Continuing its regular interaction with the media on the situation in West Asia and the gas shortage, the government held another press conference today, Tuesday, April 8, at the National Media Centre. The briefing was attended by officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Ministry of External Affairs, where they shared updates on fuel availability, maritime operations, and assistance to Indian nationals in the region. The Ministry of Civil Aviation also provided updates related to the aviation sector.

Here are the key takeaways from the April 7 media briefing:

Aviation Sector Updates

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• The Ministry of Civil Aviation said the sector is facing a serious operational and financial situation due to the West Asia conflict that began in late February. A multi-layered response has been put in place to ensure passenger safety, convenience and industry stability.
• The Ministry is closely monitoring the evolving situation. Several countries, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE, have imposed airspace restrictions, disrupting global aviation networks.
• Despite this, Indian carriers have maintained services, although flights to Europe and North America are taking longer routes, increasing travel time.
• Timely government intervention on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) pricing has helped keep domestic airfares stable. DGCA has also relaxed pilot flight duty time limitations to manage crew shortages due to longer routes.
• Foreign carriers such as Emirates, Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways have been allowed to operate passenger aircraft for cargo services to maintain supply chains.

Energy Supply and Fuel Availability

• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said fuel supply remains stable despite the situation around the Strait of Hormuz. Citizens have been advised to avoid panic buying and rely on official information.
• LPG consumers have been urged to use digital booking platforms, while people are encouraged to use alternate fuels such as PNG and electric or induction cooking.
• The government has prioritised LPG and PNG supply, especially for hospitals and educational institutions. Measures include increasing refinery production, extending LPG booking intervals and prioritising supply for key sectors.
• Alternate fuels such as kerosene and coal have been made available. States have also been asked to facilitate new PNG connections.

Monitoring, Enforcement and Coordination

• State governments have been empowered under existing laws to monitor supply and act against hoarding and black marketing. Regular review meetings are being held with States and Union Territories.
• States have been asked to issue regular advisories, monitor misinformation, and step up enforcement drives. Control rooms and monitoring committees have been set up across States/UTs.
• Enforcement action continues nationwide. Over 4,300 raids were conducted recently, leading to the seizure of more than 1,200 LPG cylinders. Oil Marketing Companies have also intensified inspections and taken action against distributors.

LPG Supply Situation

• Domestic LPG supply continues to be affected, but no dry-outs have been reported. Deliveries remain normal, with digital bookings at around 96% and authentication-based deliveries at about 90%.
• Commercial LPG allocation has been increased to about 70% of pre-crisis levels. The government has also doubled the daily allocation of 5 kg FTL cylinders for migrant labourers.
• Since March 23, around 7.8 lakh 5-kg cylinders have been sold. Sales have also increased significantly in recent days. A committee of oil companies is coordinating with states on distribution.

Natural Gas and PNG Expansion

• Priority sectors continue to receive gas supply, including full supply for domestic PNG and CNG transport. Supply to fertiliser plants and other sectors has been increased.
• States and agencies have been asked to expand PNG connections, especially for commercial establishments. Several companies are offering incentives for new connections.
• Measures have also been taken to speed up pipeline approvals and expand gas infrastructure. Since March, about 3.76 lakh PNG connections have been activated.

Fuel Availability and Pricing

• All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude stocks. Petrol and diesel supplies remain stable, and retail outlets are functioning normally.
• Despite a rise in global crude prices, excise duty on petrol and diesel has been reduced by ₹10 per litre. Retail prices remain unchanged. Export levies have been imposed on diesel and ATF to ensure domestic availability.
• Additional kerosene allocation has been provided to States to ease pressure on LPG demand.

Maritime Operations

• All Indian seafarers in the region are safe, with no incidents reported involving Indian-flagged vessels in the past 24 hours. Currently, 16 vessels with 433 Indian seafarers are in the western Persian Gulf.
• A 24×7 control room is operational and has handled thousands of calls and emails. Over 1,600 seafarers have been repatriated so far. Port operations across India remain normal.

Indian Nationals in the Region

• The Ministry of External Affairs said it is closely monitoring the situation, with the safety of Indian nationals as the top priority.
• Control rooms and 24×7 helplines are active, and missions are issuing regular advisories. Assistance is being provided for travel, visas and transit through alternative routes.
• Since February 28, around 7.6 lakh passengers have travelled from the region to India. Flights continue from Saudi Arabia, Oman and other locations, while alternative routes are being used where airspace is restricted.
• Indian missions have also facilitated the movement of nationals from Iran to neighbouring countries for onward travel.