Question : Import of Crude Oil

(a) whether our country has become/is becoming the centre of global oil demand and has sustained crude oil imports at a record and purchased more diesel than it has in the previous three years combined and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the water shortages and disputes between Government owned refineries and their private rivals has further boosted the need for overseas supplies and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details and names of private companies that are presently exporting LPG and PNG;
(d) whether the Government has purchased/proposes to purchase gas from these private companies and if so, the details thereof during the last three years; and
(e) whether price of the gas being sold in the country is higher than the price of gas being exported and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a): As per BP-Statistical Review of World Energy-2017, India ranked third in oil consumption during 2016 at 212.7 MMT with a percentage share of 4.8% of total world’s oil consumption. Crude oil imports have increased from 189.2 MMT in 2013-14 to 213.9 MMT in 2016-17 and refining capacity from 215.1 MMTPA to 234.5 MMTPA.
The import of HSD during 2016-17 has increased to comply with the implementation of BS-IV grade auto fuels across the country by 31.03.2017. The details of HSD imports during 2013-14 to 2016-17 are given below:
Import of HSD during 2013-14 to 2016-17 (P) in TMT Product 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 (P)
HSD
77
124
177
997
Source: Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell
(p): Provisional
(b): The overseas supply of crude oil import is commensurate with crude processing capacities of refineries.
(c) to (e): As per the information furnished by Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell, there are no exports of LPG by Private Companies. Further, no export of natural gas has been done by Public or Private Sector Companies. Domestic allocation of natural gas is being done by the Government in accordance with the Gas Allocation Policy. Different users, including Public Sector Undertakings, procure gas as per their requirement.
The natural gas is sold as per formula used to determine the price of domestic natural gas notified under the New Domestic Natural Gas Pricing Guidelines, 2014 and is determined on six monthly basis. Currently, the natural gas is being sold in the country at prevailing price of US $ 2.48 per MMBTU (CGV basis) w.e.f 1st April, 2017. Partly, it is also available on market determined price.
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