Govt approves Rs 22,000 crore as one time grant to 3 state-run oil marketing firms for losses in LPG

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today has approved the proposal of the ministry of petroleum & natural gas to give one-time grant of Rs22,000 crore to three state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) for the losses incurred in domestic LPG business. The grant will be distributed among Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).

"The approval will help the PSU OMCs to continue their commitment to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, ensuring unhindered domestic LPG  supplies and also supporting the procurement of Make in India products," said an official release.

Despite these losses, the three PSU OMCs have ensured continuous supplies of this essential cooking fuel in the country, it added.

Domestic LPG Cylinders are supplied at regulated prices to consumers by the public sector Oil Marketing companies namely, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL.

During the period from June 2020 to June 2022, the international prices of LPG increased by around 300%.  However, to insulate consumers from fluctuations in international LPG prices, the cost increase was not fully passed on to consumers of domestic LPG.  Accordingly, domestic LPG prices have raised by only 72% during this period.  This has led to significant losses for these OMCs, the Cabinet relase said.