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，零售汽油和柴油价格在不久的将来可能会有所下降。这种潜在的降价取决于价格较低的原油库存运抵印度炼油厂，而目前的炼油厂正在处理成本较高的库存。

原油成本与零售价格之间的滞后

在北方邦松布拉德拉（Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh）举行的新闻发布会上，Puri 部长解释了燃料价格调整中的机械性延迟。他指出，石油营销公司（OMCs）目前正在消化以较高国际价格购买的原油库存。

“目前，各公司持有以较高价格购买的原油库存。当价格较低的原油运抵时，燃料价格有可能下降，”Puri 表示。这解释了为什么尽管近期国际原油市场走软，消费者可能仍不会立即看到价格下跌；库存管理的“滞后效应”在定价中起着至关重要的作用。

在全球波动中捍卫国内定价

部长为政府对燃料价格的处理进行了辩护，声称印度在应对波动方面比大多数国家做得更好。他指出，尽管地缘政治紧张局势（特别是在中东和霍尔木兹海峡附近）扰乱了能源市场，但印度的价格上涨一直处于受控状态。

Puri 提供了几个数据点来支持这一立场：

  • 消费税减免： 通过 2021 年 11 月、2022 年 5 月以及最近的减税措施，政府已为汽油和柴油每升承担了约 ₹10 的负担。
  • 比较稳定性： 他声称，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，燃料价格的总涨幅被限制在每升约 ₹7.60，并坚持认为，与 2022 年俄乌冲突高峰期相比，价格实际上保持了稳定。

石油营销公司面临的财务压力

Despite the efforts to shield consumers, the minister acknowledged the heavy financial burden on OMCs. He revealed that these companies are currently losing approximately ₹1,000 crore per day. Industry experts have noted that the combination of elevated crude prices and a weaker rupee continues to squeeze OMC margins, forcing a delicate balance between consumer protection and corporate viability.

Economic Growth and Regional Development

Beyond energy, Puri highlighted significant economic shifts in Uttar Pradesh. He noted that the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has surged from roughly ₹13 lakh crore in 2016-17 to nearly ₹36 lakh crore. He also showcased Sonbhadra as a success story, noting its per capita income has risen from ₹43,000 in 2018 to approximately ₹1.2 lakh today, signaling a move away from its former status as a backward district.

Key Takeaways

  • Price Reduction Potential: Retail petrol and diesel prices may ease once refineries switch from expensive current stocks to newly purchased cheaper crude.
  • Government Subsidy Impact: The central government has absorbed nearly ₹10 per litre in costs through various excise duty cuts to stabilize domestic rates.
  • OMC Financial Pressure: Oil marketing companies are facing significant losses of nearly ₹1,000 crore daily due to global market volatility and currency fluctuations.