Bulk diesel sale down 3-4% after price deregulation in Bengal

KOLKATA: Bulk diesel sales have contracted by 3-4 per cent only in West Bengal in the first fortnight after the prices were deregulated on January 17, an IOC official said today.

"Till now we have witnessed a decline in diesel sales by just 3-4 per cent to bulk consumers since new pricing came into force," Indian Oil Corp Executive Director (Bengal) and state level coordinator Indrajit Bose said today at the valedictory session of the Oil & Gas Conservation Fortnight.

The government on January 17 partially deregulated diesel price allowing a hike of nearly Rs 11 for bulk consumers and 40-50 paise a litre per month for retail customers.

Bose said the diesel consumption in the state is 35,000 tonnes per month and close to 85,000 tonnes in the eastern region.

He said the decline in sales as some consumers have switched to retail sales depots due to price difference.

Speaking about LPG cancellations, he said some three lakh LPG connections had been cancelled in the state.

The event was also attended by HPCL GM (retail) D K Pattnaik.