GUWAHATI: The centre has imposed temporary restrictions on the bulk purchase of high-speed diesel (HSD) from retail fuel outlets across the country, directing institutional and commercial consumers to source their fuel requirements through authorised consumer pumps or captive facilities.
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According to an official notification, the order will remain in effect for an initial period of 90 days unless extended, modified, or withdrawn by the government.
Under the new regulations, retail fuel stations are prohibited from selling more than 200 litres of diesel to a single customer or vehicle in a day. The government has also banned the resale of diesel purchased from retail outlets, a move aimed at curbing the diversion of retail-priced fuel and strengthening oversight of fuel distribution.
Officials said the decision is intended to ensure that fuel available at retail pumps is primarily used by individual consumers, while large-scale users obtain supplies through designated channels.
The restrictions are expected to impact businesses and institutions that rely on bulk diesel purchases. Oil marketing companies, including Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), may also witness changes in fuel distribution patterns as monitoring measures are tightened.
The development comes at a time when global energy markets continue to face uncertainty due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Disruptions to key shipping routes and supply chains have contributed to rising international crude oil prices, putting pressure on fuel-importing nations such as India.
Analysts attribute the price rise largely to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil transit routes, through which nearly 20 per cent of global oil trade passes. Supply concerns in the region have pushed crude prices higher, leading to increased costs for consumers worldwide.