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, ametoa ishara ya nafuu inayoweza kuipata kwa walaji wa India, akisema kuwa bei za rejareja za petroli na dizeli zinaweza kupungua hivi karibuni. Kupungua huku kwa bei kunategemea kuwasili kwa mafuta ghafi ya bei nafuu yaliyonunuliwa hivi karibuni katika viwanda vya kusafisha mafuta vya ndani.

Ucheleweshaji Kati ya Gharama za Mafuta Ghafi na Bei za Rejareja

Wakati masoko ya mafuta duniani yameona kushuka kwa viwango, Waziri Puri alieleza kuwa kuna ucheleweshaji wa muda kabla ya faida hizi kufikia kwenye pampu. Kwa sasa, Makampuni ya Masoko ya Mafuta (OMCs) bado yanashughulikia akiba ya mafuta ghafi yaliyonunuliwa kwa bei za juu zaidi kimataifa.

"Kwa sasa, makampuni yana akiba ya mafuta ghafi yaliyonunuliwa kwa bei za juu. Mafuta ghafi yaliyonunuliwa kwa bei nafuu yakifika, kuna uwezekano wa kupungua kwa bei za mafuta," Puri alisema wakati wa mkutano na wanahabari huko Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. Ucheleweshaji huu ni hali ya kawaida ya kiutendaji katika sekta ya nishati, kwani viwanda vya kusafisha lazima vitumie akiba zote za gharama kubwa zilizopo kabla ya kuanza kutumia mafuta yafuatayo ya bei nafuu kutoka nje.

Kulinda Bei za Ndani Katikati ya Mabadiliko ya Bei Duniani

Waziri alijibu wasiwasi kuhusu ongezeko la bei hivi karibuni, ambalo limesababishwa na mivutano ya kijiopolitiki katika Magharibi mwa Asia, hasa karibu na Mlango wa Hormuz. Alibainisha kuwa ingawa bei za petroli na dizeli zimepanda kwa takriban ₹7.5 kwa lita tangu kuanza kwa mgogoro wa Mashariki ya Kati, India imeweza kudhibiti mabadiliko haya vyema kuliko mataifa mengi.

Puri alisisitiza kuwa serikali kuu imechukua nafasi kubwa katika kupunguza mzigo kwa walaji. Kwa kupunguza ushuru wa serikali kuu mnamo Novemba 2021, Mei 2022, na hivi karibuni zaidi, serikali imechukua mzigo wa takriban ₹10 kwa lita kwa mafuta yote mawili. Aidha, alidai kuwa kati ya mataifa 193 wanachama wa UN, ni Japan pekee iliyoona ongezeko dogo la bei za petroli kuliko India.

Shinikizo la Kifedha kwa Makampuni ya Masoko ya Mafuta

Licha ya juhudi za kuwalinda walaji, sekta ya nishati inakabiliwa na changamoto kubwa za kifedha. Waziri Puri alifichua kuwa OMCs kwa sasa zinapata hasara ya takriban ₹1,000 crore kwa siku. Shinikizo hili limeongezeka kutokana na mchanganyiko wa gharama kubwa za mafuta ghafi na thamani ndogo ya rupia, jambo ambalo linafanya uagizaji wa mafuta kutoka nje kuwa ghali zaidi.

The minister maintained that when compared to the price levels prevailing during the peak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the effective increase in fuel prices has been minimal, asserting that the government's interventions have prevented a massive inflationary spike in transport and logistics costs.

Economic Growth and Regional Development

During his visit to Uttar Pradesh, Puri also touched upon broader economic trends. He noted that the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has seen a massive surge, rising from approximately ₹13 lakh crore in 2016-17 to nearly ₹36 lakh crore today. He also highlighted the transformation of Sonbhadra, where per capita income has jumped from ₹43,000 in 2018 to approximately ₹1.2 lakh currently, marking its transition from a "backward district" to a potential model for development.

Key Takeaways

  • Potential Relief: Retail fuel prices may decrease once the current stocks of high-priced crude are exhausted and cheaper imports reach Indian refineries.
  • Government Buffers: The central government has absorbed nearly ₹10 per litre in excise duties to prevent extreme price volatility for consumers.
  • OMC Losses: Oil marketing companies are facing significant pressure, reporting daily losses of around ₹1,000 crore due to global market fluctuations.