随着廉价原油运抵印度，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）释放了可能让印度消费者获得缓解的信号，暗示零售燃料价格可能很快会下调。随着印度炼油商近期采购的廉价原油开始进入供应链，这种可能性正在显现。
滞后效应：为什么价格尚未下降
虽然国际原油价格已经回落，但普里部长解释说，这些降价红利传导至加油站存在自然的滞后时间。目前，石油营销公司（OMCs）仍在处理以更高全球价格采购的原油库存。
“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，燃料价格有可能下调，”普里在北方邦松布德拉举行的新闻发布会上表示。这表明，尽管全球市场出现了降温迹象，但国内零售价格的调整取决于现有高价库存的消耗情况。
在全球波动中捍卫国内定价
在回应有关近期价格上涨的担忧时，部长为政府的定价策略进行了辩护。他指出，尽管存在重大的地缘政治紧张局势——特别是围绕霍尔木兹海峡和中东危机——但印度已成功将燃料价格的涨幅控制在相对有限的范围内。
普里强调，政府已通过在 2021 年 11 月、2022 年 5 月以及近期降低中央消费税，积极采取干预措施以保护消费者。这些举措有效地吸收了汽油和柴油每升约 ₹10 的负担。他进一步断言，从实际角度来看，燃料价格的总涨幅仅限于约 ₹7.60；与 2022 年俄乌冲突期间的剧烈波动相比，价格保持了显著的稳定。
石油营销公司面临的财务压力
尽管做出了保护消费者的努力，能源行业仍面临巨大的财务压力。部长透露，OMCs 目前每天面临约 ₹1,000 crore 的亏损。这种财务压力源于高昂的进口成本与维持公众稳定零售价格需求之间的矛盾。
Industry experts have pointed out that the combination of elevated crude prices and a weakening rupee continues to squeeze OMC margins, making the arrival of cheaper crude essential for the sector's fiscal health.
Regional Economic Growth and National Ambition
Beyond energy, the Minister touched upon India's broader economic trajectory. He noted that India is steadily advancing toward becoming the world's third-largest economy. Highlighting regional progress, he cited Sonbhadra's transformation, noting that its per capita income has surged from ₹43,000 in 2018 to approximately ₹1.2 lakh today. He also mentioned Uttar Pradesh's significant economic leap, with its GSDP rising from ₹13 lakh crore in 2016-17 to nearly ₹36 lakh crore.
Key Takeaways
- Potential Price Cut: Retail petrol and diesel prices may decrease once the current stocks of expensive crude are exhausted and cheaper oil reaches refiners.
- Government Subsidy: The government has absorbed a cost of roughly ₹10 per litre through excise duty cuts to protect consumers from global volatility.
- OMC Financial Strain: Oil marketing companies are facing daily losses of nearly ₹1,000 crore due to the gap between procurement costs and retail prices.