India lowers fuel taxes, says rumours of lockdown ‘completely false’
Al Jazeera
India, the world’s third biggest crude importer, announces measures amid shortages created by the Iran war.
India has lowered fuel taxes in a bid to protect consumers from rising global energy prices – a result of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran.
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in a post on X on Friday that authorities were forced to choose between drastically increasing fuel prices amid the crisis or taking a “hit on its own finances” to protect buyers.
Petrol duties were slashed from 13 rupees ($0.14) per litre (0.26 gallon) to 3 rupees ($0.032) per litre, according to a government order on Thursday. Similarly, the 10-rupee (0.11) per litre duty on diesel will be completely removed.
Oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel following Iran’s near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz after Israel and the US launched attacks on February 28.
India is the world’s third largest crude importer and a net exporter of refined products. New Delhi gets about 40 percent of its crude via the passageway, but authorities say there’s “no shortage” amid the war, and that current reserves will cover 74 days.
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