Indian Oil confirms no nationwide petrol, diesel shortage amid localized outages

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) said there is no overall shortage of petrol or diesel across India, describing recent fuel outages at some retail outlets as "highly localised" and temporary. The company attributed the disruptions to short‑term demand‑supply mismatches in specific regions, driven by a seasonal rise in diesel consumption during the harvesting period, a shift of customers from private pumps where prices are higher, and increased institutional purchases at public‑sector stations.

IOC noted that sales of petrol rose 14 % year‑on‑year and diesel sales rose about 18 % for the period 1‑22 May, reflecting "sustained and exceptionally high" demand that it continues to meet. With a network of more than 42,000 fuel stations, only a very small number reported supply issues, while stocks remain adequate at the majority of outlets. The firm urged consumers to avoid panic buying and said it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability nationwide.