Bei za Petroli na Dizeli Zinaweza Kushuka Wakati Mafuta Ghafi ya Bei Nafuu Yakifika India

Waziri wa Petroli na Gesi Asilia wa Kitaifa, Hardeep Singh Puri, amedokeza kuwa bei za rejareja za petroli na dizeli zinaweza kupata upunguzaji katika siku za usoni. Upunguzaji huu unaoweza kutokea unategemea kuwasili kwa akiba ya mafuta ghafi ya bei ya chini katika viwanda vya kusafisha mafuta nchini India, ambayo hatimaye itachukua nafasi ya akiba ya sasa yenye gharama kubwa.

Ucheleweshaji Kati ya Gharama za Mafuta Ghafi na Bei za Rejareja

Ingawa viwango vya mafuta ghafi duniani vimepungua hivi karibuni, Waziri Puri alieleza kuwa faida hizo hazitakuwa za papo hapo kwa mlaji wa mwisho. Kwa sasa, Makampuni ya Masoko ya Mafuta (OMCs) yanachakata akiba ya mafuta ghafi ambayo ilinunuliwa kwa bei kubwa zaidi za kimataifa.

"Kwa sasa, makampuni yana akiba ya mafuta ghafi yaliyonunuliwa kwa bei za juu. Mafuta ghafi yanaponunuliwa kwa bei ya chini yakifika kwao, kuna uwezekano wa kupungua kwa bei za mafuta," Puri alieleza wakati wa mkutano na wanahabari huko Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. Kipindi hiki cha mpito ni muhimu, kwani gharama ya kusafisha mafuta inategemea sana akiba iliyopo inayoshikiliwa na OMCs.

Kutetea Utulivu wa Bei za Mafuta Katika Hali ya Mabadiliko ya Soko Duniani

Akijibu wasiwasi kuhusu kupanda kwa gharama za mafuta, Waziri alitetea mkakati wa bei wa serikali. Alibainisha kuwa ingawa mivutano ya kijiopolitiki—hasa Mashariki ya Kati na Mlimbo wa Hormuz—imesababisha mabadiliko ya mara kwa mara ya soko, India imefanikiwa kuwalinda walaji dhidi ya athari kamili za usumbufu huo.

Puri alisisitiza kuwa serikali imeingilia kati kwa bidii ili kutuliza bei kwa kupunguza ushuru wa kati wa bidhaa mnamo Novemba 2021, Mei 2022, na hivi karibuni zaidi. Hatua hizi zimefuta kwa ufanisi mzigo wa takriban ₹10 kwa lita kwenye petroli na dizeli. Akilinganisha utendaji wa India na sehemu nyingine ya dunia, alibainisha kuwa kati ya mataifa 193 wanachama wa UN, ni Japani pekee iliyoona ongezeko dogo la bei za petroli kuliko India.

Shinikizo la Kifedha kwa Makampuni ya Masoko ya Mafuta

Waziri pia alionyesha shinikizo kubwa la kifedha linalokabili sekta ya nishati kwa sasa. Licha ya juhudi za serikali kuweka bei za rejareja katika kiwango kinachoweza kudhibitiwa, OMCs kwa sasa zinapata hasara ya takriban ₹1,000 crore kwa siku.

Since the escalation of the Middle East crisis, petrol and diesel prices have risen by roughly ₹7.5 per litre. This rise has raised concerns regarding inflation and logistics costs. However, Puri argued that when compared to the price levels during the height of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the effective increase in fuel prices has been minimal.

Economic Growth and Regional Development

Beyond energy, the Minister touched upon India's broader economic trajectory and regional development. He highlighted the rapid economic expansion of Uttar Pradesh, noting that its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has surged from ₹13 lakh crore in 2016-17 to nearly ₹36 lakh crore today. He also praised Sonbhadra for its progress, noting that the district's per capita income has risen from ₹43,000 in 2018 to approximately ₹1.2 lakh, signaling a shift away from its previous status as a backward region.

Key Takeaways

  • Price Relief Timeline: Retail fuel prices may decrease only once the current high-cost crude stocks are depleted and replaced by cheaper imports.
  • Government Intervention: The central government has absorbed nearly ₹10 per litre in costs through excise duty cuts to protect consumers from global volatility.
  • OMC Financial Stress: Oil Marketing Companies are currently facing heavy losses of around ₹1,000 crore daily due to the mismatch between crude costs and controlled retail prices.