Private fuel stations cap diesel sales as price gap widens, prompting PSU limits
Jio-bp and Nayara Energy have imposed daily diesel purchase caps, and state-owned oil firms are expected to follow as the gap between retail and bulk diesel prices widens.
Facing a widening Rs 40-per-litre gap between retail diesel and bulk rates, private operators Jio-bp and Nayara Energy have introduced daily purchase limits—50 litres at Jio-bp stations and 70-200 litres at Nayara outlets. Bulk consumers such as factories, data centres and hospitals have been shifting to cheaper retail pumps, straining inventories. The shortage has led the firms to curb sales to ensure broader access for motorists and other users.
Analysts expect state-run Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd to impose comparable caps. Both private and public retailers say the measures are meant to balance demand and keep stations stocked despite rising international crude prices.
Why it matters
The caps could tighten diesel supply for industry and raise operating costs across India’s economy.
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