随着廉价原油运抵印度炼油厂，汽油和柴油价格可能会下降
联邦石油和天然气部长 Hardeep Singh Puri 表示，一旦低价原油库存运抵印度炼油厂，零售汽油和柴油价格就有可能下调。虽然目前的价格反映了此前高成本的采购情况，但廉价进口油的到来可能会为印度消费者提供急需的缓解。
滞后效应：为什么价格尚未下降
在北方邦松布拉德拉（Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh）举行的新闻发布会上，Puri 部长澄清说，目前的零售价格与系统中已有的原油库存挂钩。石油营销公司（OMCs）目前正在处理一批以较高国际价格采购的原油。
“目前，各公司持有的是以较高价格购买的原油库存。当以较低价格购买的原油运抵时，燃料价格有可能下调，”Puri 表示。这解释了全球原油基准价格下跌与印度加油站实际价格调整之间的时间滞后。
在全球波动中捍卫燃料定价策略
部长为政府的定价策略进行了辩护，指出尽管全球能源市场剧烈波动，且中东地区（特别是霍尔木兹海峡附近）地缘政治紧张，但国内燃料价格仍保持相对稳定。
Puri 提供了几个数据点来支持政府的立场：
- 税收吸收： 通过多次下调中央消费税（特别是在 2021 年 11 月和 2022 年 5 月），政府在汽油和柴油上分别承担了每升约 ₹10 的负担。
- 全球对比： Puri 声称，在 193 个联合国成员国中，只有日本的石油价格涨幅低于印度。
- 涨幅有限： 他指出，燃料价格的实际涨幅仅限于约 ₹7.60，并断言与 2022 年俄乌冲突期间的剧烈波动相比，价格并未出现大幅飙升。
石油营销公司面临的财务压力
Despite the stability offered to consumers, the Minister highlighted the significant financial strain on OMCs. He revealed that these companies are currently losing approximately ₹1,000 crore per day. This loss is a result of the government's decision to shield consumers from the full brunt of rising crude costs and the pressure exerted by a weaker rupee and elevated global prices.
Recent geopolitical tensions in West Asia have already caused petrol and diesel prices to rise by roughly ₹7.5 per litre, sparking concerns regarding inflation, logistics, and household budgets.
Economic Growth and Regional Development
Beyond energy, Puri touched upon the broader economic landscape, highlighting the rapid growth of Uttar Pradesh and the development of Sonbhadra. He noted that Sonbhadra's per capita income has jumped from ₹43,000 in 2018 to approximately ₹1.2 lakh today. Furthermore, he pointed out that Uttar Pradesh’s GSDP has surged from ₹13 lakh crore in 2016-17 to nearly ₹36 lakh crore, contributing to India's trajectory toward becoming the world's third-largest economy.
Key Takeaways
- Price Relief Potential: Retail fuel prices may decrease once the current high-cost crude stocks are exhausted and cheaper imports reach refiners.
- Government Subsidy: The central government has absorbed nearly ₹10 per litre in excise duties to protect consumers from global market volatility.
- OMC Losses: Oil marketing companies are facing a daily loss of roughly ₹1,000 crore due to the gap between high import costs and controlled domestic pricing.