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West Asia Crisis Update: Indian Govt Inter-Ministerial Briefing On Oil, Gas & Pharmaceuticals Hot
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00:08There is a clear recognition of the fact that various global supply chains of pharma
00:15inputs have disrupted on account of West Asia crisis. There is an issue related to supply
00:25of solvents and active pharmaceutical ingredients. However, there is no major increase in sales
00:32prices of drugs and pharmaceuticals. In order to support pharma industry and to maintain
00:40the availability of inputs, feedstocks and also APIs, Department of Revenue through Notification
00:47dated 1st April 2026 has slashed custom duties of 40 various petrochemical products to zero.
00:59It should be recognized that pharmaceutical sector has a very strong value chain linkage
01:06with the petroleum and petrochemical sector particularly in the supply of critical feedstocks
01:13and solvents which are used for manufacturing of drugs and syrups. In view of this interdependence,
01:21the government is working in close coordination with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
01:27and the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals so that uninterrupted supply of essential pharma
01:33inputs is ensured. Accordingly, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has made allocation
01:41pro rata as per the availability of feedstocks, particularly propylene and there are other two solvents,
01:49ammonia and methanol, as with the help of Department of Fertilizer. Fertilizer manufacturing units
02:00are continuously providing the necessary input of ammonia to solvent manufacturers so that further
02:10downstream products are made available. Propylene remains the most critical input because it is used
02:17for production of isopropyl alcohol and isobutyl benzene which are used for manufacturing of medicines
02:25like ibuprofen and other necessary drugs. A significant portion of these is being supplied by the Ministry of Petroleum
02:35and Natural Gas through BPCL Kochi and Mumbai refineries. However, methanol supply has emerged as a major area of concern.
02:46In this regard, there has been discussions with Assam
02:50Petrochemicals and GNFC which are ready to supply the necessary quantities of methanol. So work is underway to establish the
03:02necessary logistics and supply chains.
03:05Supply, however, in a moderate way has already commenced. The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals
03:12has also extended support by suspending the quality control order of morpholine and morpholine is a very important building block
03:20used for manufacturing of various life-saving drugs.
03:23Aluminium supply required for pharmaceutical packaging has faced constraints. The restoration of supplies is underway and the situation is expected
03:31to
03:32normalize within a week or so. Supplies of LPG and HSD oil is important, particularly for ampoule and vile ceilings
03:41and are under very close watch and
03:44pharmaceutical units are currently not facing any constraints as of today. The government remains fully engaged with the
03:52facilitating supplies on case-to-case basis. That means to say, if there are any concerns, we get information and
04:00request through concerned organizations and also through associations. And as and when we get requests from these associations, we facilitate
04:12the supply in our own limited
04:14manner. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Now we take updates from the Petroleum Ministry. Over to you, Sujati.
04:26Namaskar.
04:28जैसा कि आप जाते हैं कि LPG supply present geopolitical situation में affect हुई है. और हमारे लगबक 60%
04:39आफ हमारा जो requirement है country का LPG का, वो इंपॉर्ट से होता है.
04:44This is the domestic consumer to prioritize and the use of the LPG supply is 100% insured.
04:59We have no dry out of LPG distributor.
05:04We have 51,000,000,000 to LPG cylinder.
05:11Our online booking is 98% and the OTP-based LPG delivery is 92%.
05:23Commercial LPG is affected by the commercial LPG.
05:30The LPG bho 70% tuk restore ki gai hai.
05:34और जैसा कि अभी आपको बताया pharma और बाकी कुछ और sectors के लिए भी जैसे food, polymer, agriculture, packaging,
05:46paint, etc.
05:47इन सब के लिए भी bulk non-domestic LPG की supply को restore किया गया है.
05:55Sector wise लगबग 200 ton.
05:58इसके अलावा मैं आपको ये बताना चाहूंगी कि 14 March से लगबग 1,00,000,000 commercial LPG की sale
06:07हुई है.
06:07कल 6,700 ton commercial LPG की sale हुई अगर इसको 19 kilo cylinder के term में देखें तो लगबग
06:173,500,000,000 cylinders होते हैं.
06:205 kilo के cylinder students के लिए और जो labor है उन लोगों को support करने के लिए या उनको
06:31सहुलियत देने के लिए 5 kilo की cylinder का supply increase किया जा चुका है.
06:36और कल तक पिछले 6 दिन में एक हफ़ते में 2000 से ज़ादा हमारी oil marketing companies के द्वारा कैंप
06:46किये गए हैं awareness camp और लगबग 20,000 cylinders का sale in camps में हुआ है.
06:52कल 1,00,000 से ज़ादा cylinder, 1,00,000,000,000 पांच किलो के cylinders की sale हुई है.
06:59यही number February का अगर average देखें तो लगबग 77,000 होता है.
07:06इसके अलावा अभी तक 23 मार्स से लगबग 10,05,000 के cylinders की sale की जा चुकी है.
07:15Natural gas मैंने आपको कल बताया था कि 90% तक supplies, fertilizer plants के लिए restore करने की बात
07:25की गई थी.
07:26अब इसको बढ़ा कर 95% कर दिया गया है.
07:29इसके अलावा CGD companies को colleges, school, cold storage, food processing industry को 100% gas supply करने की बात
07:42कही गई है.
07:47मार्च के महीने से लेकर अब तक लगबग 3,97,000 नए PNG connections को gas दी गई है.
07:55इसके अलावा 4,30,000 नए customers भी register किये गए है.
08:02हमारा एक portal है, website है mypngd.in
08:07इस website पर 18,000 से जादा consumers ने अपने LPG connections को surrender किया है.
08:17Retail outlets पर भी supply normal है.
08:20और मैं आपको ये बताना चाहूंगी कि जो oil marketing companies के, public sector oil marketing companies के जो pump
08:30है, वहाँ पर auto LPG का जो sale है, वो normal चल रहा है.
08:36लेकिन private operators को कुछ constraint होने की वज़ा से, हमारे pumps पर, जो public sector oil marketing companies के
08:44pump जो है, वहाँ पर थोड़ी सी line है.
08:48इसके अलावा मैं आपको ये बताना चाहूंगी कि हमारी crude inventory is adequate है, हमारी refineries optimum capacity पर काम
08:59कर रही है.
09:00कल जो हमारा LPG production था, वो लगबग 48,000 ton था हमारी refineries से.
09:08इसके अलावा C3, C4 molecules का कुछ pool, pharmaceutical, animal husbandry, department of chemicals and petrochemicals के request पर कुछ
09:21allocate किया गया है, और लगबग इसकी quantity है, 800 ton per day.
09:30इस सभी के साथ मैं ये भी बताना चाहूंगी कि लगबग सभी states और union territories में control room setup
09:37है, district monitoring committee setup है, और वो लगातार स्तिती पर नजर बनाए हुए है, और बहुत सारे states के
09:46अंदर daily briefing भी issue हो रही है.
09:50कल लगबग 3300 rate की गई, जिसमें 600 से जादा cylinder seize किये गए, अभी तक लगबग 116000 rates की
09:59जा चुकी है, इसके अलावा, oil marketing companies ने भी 1870 show cause notice की दिये है, LPG distributors को,
10:10और लगबग 3300 LPG distributors को suspend भी किया गया है.
10:14अंत में मैं सभी लोगों से ये प्रात्ना करना चाहूंगी की supply is sufficient है, इसलिए अफाहों पर विश्वास न
10:23करें और जरूरत के अनुसार, petrol, diesel और LPG खरी दें.
10:29Thank you. Now we take updates from Shipping Ministry.
10:33Thank you. Ministry of Port Shipping and Waterways in coordination with Ministry of External Affairs, Cargo Ministries and Indian Missions
10:42is actively monitoring the situation.
10:47No incident involving Indian flagged vessels or Indian seafarers has been reported in the past 24 hours.
10:55The Indian flagged vessel LPG, that is LPG, filled with LPG, Green Asha, that crossed the Strait of Howmuj on
11:035th of April 2026,
11:05has safely reached JNPA earlier today.
11:15The Ministry's control room, that is manned by DG Shipping, has handled about 5,600 calls and 12,000 emails
11:24since its activation.
11:26In the past 24 hours, 166 calls and 317 emails have been received.
11:33The Ministry through DG Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 1,800 Indian seafarers so far,
11:41including 49 in the past 24 hours from various locations across the Gulf region.
11:48Port operation across India remains normal, with no congestion reported.
11:52The Ministry continues to coordinate with the maritime stakeholders to ensure seafarer welfare and uninterrupted maritime operations.
12:04Thank you. Now, Ranirji.
12:08Thank you, ma'am.
12:12We are closely following the developments in West Asia.
12:16We continue to engage with countries in the region.
12:20As you would have seen, our press release earlier yesterday,
12:24External Affairs Minister will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates from 11th to 12th April 2026.
12:33During the visit, he will meet the leadership of the UAE to review close cooperation
12:40and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
12:46We are also reaching out to other countries in the GCC region.
12:52Our Minister of Petroleum is also visiting the region, as you would have seen.
12:56He is paying an official visit to Qatar on 9th and 10th April 2026.
13:01Thank you very much.
13:03Asim Ji.
13:05Good afternoon.
13:07We continue to monitor the developments in the Gulf and West Asia region.
13:11Our dedicated special control room in the Ministry remains operational,
13:15and we continue to remain in regular touch with the state governments and union territories.
13:21Our efforts are focused on ensuring the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community in the region.
13:26Our missions and posts are operating round-the-clock helplines and proactively assisting our citizens.
13:33Updated advisories are being issued, including information related to local government guidelines,
13:38flight and travel situation, and consular services.
13:41Our missions remain actively engaged with the Indian community associations, organizations, professional groups,
13:48Indian companies, and other stakeholders.
13:49An update on the status of flights.
13:53Flights continue to operate from the region to India from countries where airspace is open.
13:59Since February, we have traveled from the region to India.
14:07Airlines continue to operate limited non-scheduled commercial flights based on operational and safety considerations between UAE and India.
14:15Around 85 flights are expected to operate from the UAE to India today.
14:21Flights are operating from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to different destinations in India.
14:27With the Qatar airspace partially open, Qatar airways is expected to operate around 8 to 10 flights to India today.
14:36Kuwait airspace remains closed.
14:39Jazira airways of Kuwait and Kuwait airways continue to operate non-scheduled commercial flights from Dhamam airport of Saudi Arabia
14:46to various destinations in India.
14:49Due to airspace closure, we continue to facilitate travel of Indian nationals from Kuwait through Saudi Arabia to India.
14:58Bahrain airspace is now open.
15:01Bahrain airspace is now open.
15:01Gulf Air of Bahrain has announced limited flight operations from Bahrain to India that are expected to start soon.
15:07Gulf Air is operating non-scheduled commercial flights from Dhamam airport of Saudi Arabia to various destinations in India.
15:15We continue to facilitate travel of Indian nationals from Bahrain through Saudi Arabia to India.
15:25Our embassy in Tehran has so far facilitated movement of 2,170 Indian nationals from Iran to Armenia and Azerbaijan
15:35for onward travel to India.
15:36This includes 971 Indian students and 657 Indian fishermen.
15:42The airspace in Israel remains closed.
15:45We continue to facilitate travel of Indian nationals from Israel through Jordan and Egypt to India.
15:52Iraqic airspace is now open.
15:55Flight operations are yet to resume.
15:57We continue to facilitate travel of Indian nationals from Iraq through Jordan and Saudi Arabia to India.
16:06Now we will take questions.
16:07First row.
16:0954, 130, 208.
16:13And 46.
16:16Good afternoon.
16:17I am Rajesh Roy from Bloomberg.
16:18Sujata ma'am, any details possible on oil minister's visit to Qatar because Qatar is a big supplier of energy.
16:26And Mangal sir, any details on the Indian flag vessels movement?
16:30And Randhir sir, as you know, over the weekend, Pakistan is going to hold a high-powered delegation from U
16:34.S.
16:35led by JD Vance and also Iran.
16:37How do you see that?
16:38How does India react to that?
16:45Hi, thanks.
16:46I'm Arzadi from PK.
16:47Partly asked by Rajesh.
16:49But again, what is on Mr. Puri's agenda for Qatar?
16:54Are we looking at resuming sourcing of LNG again from Qatar because Qatar has been the largest supplier?
17:01And one question to Mr. Satiprakash.
17:03Does the feedstock supplies, will they normalize the production of critical medicines now?
17:12There were also reports that some contraceptive production was also impacted because of the supplies.
17:17Have all those supplies been normalized now?
17:22My question is for Mangal sir and Randhir sir as well.
17:28You know, our government has maintained that there should be free passage of ships through the state of Hormuz.
17:38But now increasingly there are talks of a toll being formalized by Iran and in fact U.S. President Donald
17:47Trump also made a comment calling it a beautiful thing, you know, a big beautiful toll.
17:55Considering that our stance has always been that there should be freedom of navigation, what would be India's stand if
18:04such a system were to be formalized?
18:07Considering that there are certain examples of natural states having a toll system, for instance, the Bosphorus, the Turkish government
18:15charges a fee.
18:17So if that sort of comes into play here in the state of Hormuz, what would be our stance?
18:29Hi, Tresh from Economic Times.
18:30Thank you for letting me ask a question.
18:33Sir, yesterday DG Shipping late night came out with a circular regarding some more advisories telling the ports that they
18:41should also pass on the concessions as early as possible
18:44and telling the ships to make sure that they are not overcharging of saying that there is too much insurance
18:50premium being paid.
18:51Sir, can we get to know about any of the triggers that led to this more stricter advisory that was
18:57issued?
19:01Sir, yes.
19:04Sir, yes.
19:05Sir, yes.
19:06Sir, yes.
19:07Sir, yes.
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