Petrol pumps run by PSUs witness surge in demand

New Delhi: Substantial reduction in sales by private fuel retailers, bulk buyers' shift to retail outlets for lower prices and seasonal increase in farming-related consumption have combined to create a demand surge at petrol pumps run by state-run companies, resulting in service delays, the petroleum and natural gas ministry said, adding that more supplies are being made available to meet the extra demand.

"It is a fact that at specific locations in some states, there has been a significant increase in demand for petrol and diesel, with an increase being as high as 50% during the first half of June 2022 over the corresponding period of last year," the ministry said in a statement.

The surge has been noticed mainly in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. "These are states where a large quantity of supply was being done by retail outlets belonging to private marketing companies and where the distances from supply locations i.e., terminals and depots are longer," it said.