On Monday, the central government increased the export duty on diesel to ₹14 per liter and that on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to ₹12.5 per liter. The export duty on petrol remains unchanged, as does the excise duty on petrol and diesel within the country.

As per the official gazette notification by the Revenue Department, the export duty on diesel stands increased to ₹14 per liter while that on ATF has increased to ₹12.5 per liter. The newly increased export duties on diesel and ATF will come into effect from Tuesday. The government had imposed a Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) and Road and Infrastructure Cess on exports of petrol, diesel, and ATF from March 27, so as to ensure that there is sufficient availability of petroleum products domestically.

These duty rates are reviewed every fortnight. The last revision was implemented on June 1st. Duty rates are determined based on the average prices of crude oil, petrol, diesel, and ATF in the international market. Meanwhile, the Petroleum Ministry clarified that there is adequate availability of petrol, diesel, LPG, and natural gas in the country and appealed to citizens and industries to use energy responsibly. Addressing an inter-ministerial press conference, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry, emphasized energy conservation and urged large industrial and commercial consumers to purchase diesel through their consumer pumps to reduce pressure on retail petrol pumps.

She stated that the government has implemented this temporary arrangement to reduce congestion and pressure at retail petrol pumps. According to Sharma, the supply of petrol, diesel, and LPG is completely stable, refineries are operating at full capacity, and there are adequate crude oil stocks available. She stated that the problem is not a supply issue, but a shift in consumption patterns. During May, approximately 420 million liters of diesel, previously distributed through wholesale or consumer pumps, shifted to retail outlets, increasing pressure in some areas.

To protect the interests of consumers, the government, through a notification issued on June 11, has limited diesel sales from retail pumps to 200 liters per person per day. Industrial and commercial consumers have been directed to use consumer pumps for their needs. Sujata Sharma clarified that this arrangement has been implemented temporarily for approximately 90 days and is intended to avoid any inconvenience to the public.