UP Fuel Supply Remains Stable as OMCs and Dealers Deny Statewide Shortage
Oil marketing companies (OMCs) and the Uttar Pradesh Petrol Dealers Association issued a joint clarification on Thursday, firmly stating that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel anywhere in the state. This announcement came in response to circulating reports about a few fuel stations temporarily running out of diesel, which authorities attribute to a sudden and unexpected spike in consumer demand.
Official Data Reveals Ample Fuel Reserves Across Uttar Pradesh
According to detailed figures provided by the OMCs, Uttar Pradesh operates an extensive network of over 13,000 fuel stations. The state's daily consumption metrics are substantial, with approximately 1.90 crore litres of petrol (equivalent to 13.87 thousand metric tonnes) and 3.50 crore litres of diesel (29.4 TMT) being used regularly.
"The supply chain is functioning smoothly and without interruption," emphasized Sanjay Bhandari, the state-level OMC coordinator and executive director of Indian Oil Corporation for Uttar Pradesh. "Petrol and diesel are abundantly available across the state. We urge citizens not to believe or spread rumours about shortages, and there is absolutely no need to panic or engage in fuel hoarding."
Current inventory levels support this assurance. On average, each individual fuel station in UP is holding between 4 to 5 days of stock. Furthermore, the state maintains collective reserves sufficient for 10 to 15 days of normal operation, which industry experts consider a standard and healthy buffer.
Panic Buying Leads to Isolated, Temporary Stock-Outs
Despite the overall stable supply situation, dealers acknowledged that localized incidents of panic buying did cause temporary stock-outs at a limited number of outlets. Farmers, commercial transporters, and private vehicle owners were reportedly refilling their tanks more frequently than usual, leading to rapid depletion at specific stations.
In the state capital of Lucknow, at least two stations experienced such temporary shortages on Thursday. These included a company-owned, company-operated (COCO) outlet located near Husadiya Chauraha and another station in the Hazratganj area, both of which declared a brief diesel shortage.
Lucknow district, which consumes around 6 lakh litres of diesel and 3 lakh litres of petrol daily, is served by nearly 300 fuel stations. Of these, 167 are privately owned. Dealers noted that some of these private outlets ran out of stock specifically due to the excessive and sudden demand.
Dealer Associations Reiterate Call for Calm and Normal Consumption
"Panic buying by farmers, transporters, and private vehicle owners led to a sudden drain at some stations," explained Alok Trivedi, general secretary of the Lucknow Petrol Dealer Association. "However, it is crucial to understand that there is no actual shortage of petrol, diesel, or CNG in the city. We strongly appeal to all consumers to refrain from hoarding fuel."
Virendra Pratap Singh, president of the LPDA, provided further context, noting that only a few privately operated stations temporarily suspended sales. Government-owned COCO outlets and the majority of dealer-run stations continued to function normally without any supply issues.
Ranjeet Kumar, president of the state petrol dealers association, offered a final reassurance to consumers across Uttar Pradesh: "All fuel stations across the state have sufficient stock to meet demand. The situation is under control, and there is no need for public panic or concern regarding fuel availability."
