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哈迪普·辛格·普里（Hardeep Singh Puri）表示，一旦廉价原油船队运抵国内炼油厂，零售汽油和柴油价格就有可能下调。尽管全球市场波动仍在持续，但政府正在密切监测国际趋势，以在消费者成本与石油营销公司的财务健康之间取得平衡。
原油进口与零售定价之间的滞后期
降价的可能性在很大程度上取决于原油库存周期的时机。普里部长在桑布拉（Sonbhadra）举行的新闻发布会上解释说，石油营销公司（OMCs）目前正在处理以较高国际价格购买的原油库存。
由于炼油厂是利用现有库存进行生产的，国际原油价格走软带来的好处不会立即显现。“当以较低价格购买的原油运抵时，燃料价格有可能下调，”普里表示，并澄清在消费者在加油站感受到价格回落之前，时间上的滞后是不可避免的。
在全球波动中捍卫国内价格稳定
针对通货膨胀和运输成本上升的担忧，部长为政府的定价策略进行了辩护。他指出，尽管中东地区存在地缘政治紧张局势，且霍尔木兹海峡附近出现干扰，但印度已成功控制了燃料价格的上涨。
普里强调了支持这一立场的几个关键因素：
- 税收吸收： 政府通过多次削减中央消费税（特别是在 2021 年 11 月和 2022 年 5 月），为汽油和柴油每升分别承担了约 ₹10 的负担。
- 对比表现： 部长声称，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。
- 受控增长： 他断言，燃料价格的总涨幅被限制在每升约 ₹7.60 左右，这表明与 2022 年俄乌冲突期间出现的波动相比，价格实际上保持了稳定。
石油营销公司面临的财务压力
While the government aims to shield consumers, the financial strain on OMCs is significant. The Minister revealed that oil marketing companies are currently incurring losses of approximately ₹1,000 crore per day. This pressure is compounded by the dual challenge of elevated crude prices and a weaker rupee, which increases the cost of imports. Industry experts warn that these factors continue to squeeze OMC margins, even as the government attempts to mitigate the impact on household budgets and logistics.
Economic Growth and Regional Development
Beyond energy, the Minister highlighted India's broader economic trajectory and regional progress. He pointed to the rapid growth of Uttar Pradesh, noting its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) surged from ₹13 lakh crore in 2016-17 to nearly ₹36 lakh crore. He also lauded Sonbhadra's transformation, noting its per capita income rose from ₹43,000 in 2018 to approximately ₹1.2 lakh today, signaling India's steady march toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy.
Key Takeaways
- Price Relief Timeline: Retail fuel prices may decrease once the current high-cost crude stocks are depleted and cheaper imports reach Indian refiners.
- Government Subsidy: The central government has absorbed nearly ₹10 per litre in excise duties to prevent sharp spikes in petrol and diesel costs.
- OMC Financial Strain: Oil marketing companies are facing daily losses of roughly ₹1,000 crore due to global volatility and currency fluctuations.