MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a): The details of crude oil imported and its value in terms of rupee and dollar during the last three years and the current year and Country wise crude oil import during the said period is given in Annexure-I.
(b): The details of crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products production and consumption (PSU/JV and private sector company-wise) during the last three years are given in Annexure-II.
(c): At present, the existing refining capacity is sufficient to meet domestic demand of POL products (except for LPG and lubricants )and some of the products are exported. The measures being taken to reduce import dependency are as under:
i. Increasing production of oil & gas
ii. Energy conservation and efficiency
iii. Demand substitution
iv. Promoting alternate fuels/renewable
v. Improvement in refinery processes.
Further, the major steps taken by the Government to reduce the subsidy/ under-recovery burden on petroleum products are as following:
(i) Petrol and Diesel prices were made market determined effective 26th June 2010 & 19th October 2014 respectively.
(ii) At present, a cap of 12 cylinders per annum of Domestic LPG at subsidized rate to each household, is applicable.
(iii) The Government has also launched Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme (PAHAL) in the entire country effective 1st January 2015 wherein the subsidy on Domestic LPG is provided only to the eligible consumers directly in their bank account. Further, on 28th December 2015, the Government has decided that the benefit of the LPG subsidy will not be available for LPG consumers if the consumer or his/her spouse had taxable income of more than Rs. 10,00,000/- during the previous financial year.
(iv) The Government has launched ‘Give it up’ campaign wherein the better off sections of the society have been requested to forego their LPG subsidy.
(v) The quota of PDS Kerosene has been rationalized over the years resulting in reduction in subsidy.
(d): Public Sector OMCs take decision on import of petroleum products based on demand and supply scenario in the country.
(e): The Government is promoting biofuels, such as ethanol and bio-diesel, as substitutes of Petrol and Diesel. The Government, through Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies, is implementing Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme under which, Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies sell ethanol blended petrol with percentage of ethanol upto 10%. Also, retailing of bio-diesel blended diesel by Oil Marketing Companies has started on World Biofuel Day, i.e., 10th August, 2015.
The Government has also issued notifications related to mass emission standard for flex-fuel (E 85) or (E 100) and ethanol (ED 95) vehicles, Bio diesel and retro-fitment of Hybrid Electric Vehicles to promote the use of public transport to counter the rising demand of petroleum products and as an alternative to petroleum products in the country.
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