随着廉价原油运抵印度精炼厂，汽油和柴油价格可能会下降
联邦石油和天然气部长哈迪普·辛格·普里（Hardeep Singh Puri）释放了可能为印度消费者带来减负的信号，暗示零售汽油和柴油价格可能很快会下降。这种预期的降价取决于目前国内精炼厂正在处理的低价原油库存的到货情况。
原油成本与零售价格之间的滞后
尽管全球原油市场已显示出走软迹象，但部长哈迪普·辛格·普里澄清说，这种红利不会立即显现。目前，石油营销公司（OMCs）正在消耗以较高价格购买的现有原油库存。
“目前，各公司仍持有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，燃油价格有可能下降，”普里在北方邦松巴德拉举行的新闻发布会上表示。这解释了目前国际基准价格下跌与国内加油站价格之间的差距。
在全球波动中捍卫国内定价
在回应有关燃料通胀的担忧时，部长为政府在西亚地缘政治紧张局势以及霍尔木兹海峡附近发生动荡背景下的定价策略进行了辩护。他强调，政府已积极缓冲全球价格冲击对公众的影响。
普里指出，中央政府已多次降低消费税——特别是在2021年11月、2022年5月以及最近——在汽油和柴油上分别承担了每升约 ₹10 的负担。他认为印度的价格稳定性在全球范围内名列前茅，并表示在193个联合国成员国中，只有日本的石油价格涨幅低于印度。
石油营销公司面临的经济压力
部长还阐述了石油营销公司面临的财务压力。尽管政府努力保护消费者，但这些公司目前正面临巨大的亏损，估计每天约为 ₹1,000 crore（100亿卢比）。
Industry experts have pointed out that the combination of elevated crude costs and a weaker rupee continues to squeeze OMC margins. While petrol and diesel prices have risen by approximately ₹7.5 per litre since the recent Middle East crisis began, Puri maintained that compared to the peak volatility during the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict, the effective increase has been minimal.
Regional Economic Growth and Development
Beyond energy, the Minister used the visit to highlight the rapid economic transformation in Uttar Pradesh. He pointed to the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), which has surged from roughly ₹13 lakh crore in 2016-17 to nearly ₹36 lakh crore today.
He specifically lauded Sonbhadra for its progress, noting that its per capita income has climbed 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 Price Cut: Retail fuel prices may decrease once the current high-cost crude inventory is exhausted and cheaper crude reaches Indian refiners.
- Government Subsidy: The central government has absorbed nearly ₹10 per litre in excise duties to protect consumers from global volatility.
- OMC Financial Strain: Oil marketing companies are currently facing daily losses of roughly ₹1,000 crore due to market fluctuations and currency pressures.