All refineries operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories: Govt
New Delhi, June 4
Amid the evolving situation in West Asia, the Centre on Thursday assured that all refineries in the country are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, while sufficient stocks of petrol, diesel, and LPG are being maintained to ensure uninterrupted supply across sectors.
In a related development, the Civil Aviation Ministry announced that the Union Cabinet has approved a one-time budgetary support mechanism of up to Rs 10,000 crore to provide ATF price stabilisation support to scheduled Indian airlines.
The initiative has been introduced in view of the extraordinary volatility in global fuel prices triggered by the ongoing West Asia crisis.
Officials said the mechanism is designed as a temporary and self-correcting arrangement under which the government will provide an interest-free advance to oil marketing companies, enabling them to supply ATF to airlines at predetermined and stable prices for both domestic and international operations.
When international ATF prices exceed the benchmark level, the corpus will compensate oil marketing companies for the difference, while any price moderation will lead to recovery of funds and their return to the Consolidated Fund of India through a transparent true-up process.
The government emphasised that the arrangement is not a subsidy but a stabilisation mechanism intended to smooth extreme price fluctuations in global fuel markets.
Since ATF forms a major component of airline operating costs, the measure is expected to provide pricing predictability and help airlines manage operations more efficiently during a period of geopolitical uncertainty.
Officials said the decision will help moderate sudden airfare spikes caused by volatility in fuel prices, thereby benefiting passengers, including families, students, business travellers and tourists.
It is also expected to ensure continued air connectivity across the country, including remote, regional and smaller cities, supporting economic activity and inclusive development.
The government added that the measure will have wider economic benefits by supporting employment across aviation, tourism, logistics and allied sectors, while strengthening domestic and international connectivity.
It will also help optimise the use of airport infrastructure, including facilities developed under the UDAN scheme.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some relief for common passengers. Airfares have become so unpredictable lately that even planning a family trip is stressful. But I hope this Rs 10,000 crore is used transparently and not just to pad airline profits. Accountability is key.
Good that they're keeping LPG and diesel stocks full. This is essential for our daily lives and the economy. But I worry about the long-term impact of global oil prices on India's import bill. We need to accelerate our shift to renewables and EVs to reduce dependence on Middle East oil. Thoughts?
As someone who flies often for work between Bangalore and Delhi, I've seen fares double in the last six months. This ATF price stabilisation is a welcome step. But I'm sceptical about how quickly airlines will pass on the benefits to passengers. We need regulatory oversight to ensure fair pricing.
Chalo, at least government is thinking ahead. The UDAN scheme has connected many smaller cities, and this ATF buffer will help keep those flights affordable. My village in Himachal now has direct flights to Delhi thanks to UDAN. Hope this stabilisation mechanism keeps those routes viable. ✈️
I appreciate the effort but this is just a band-aid. Why not use this crisis as an opportunity to invest in domestic oil exploration, biofuels, or even hydrogen? The more we rely on imports, the more vulnerable we are. Also, Rs 10,000 crore is a lot - hope it's not misused.
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