India imports fuel from over 40 nations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated, inaugurated, and laid the foundation stone on 4 July for development projects worth around Rs.1.06 lakh crore in Balotra, including the Rajasthan Refinery and a new airport terminal in Jodhpur.
Contextualizing India’s industrial growth on a global scale, the Prime Minister pointed out that while America has not built a new refinery in 50 years and Europe’s capacity is shrinking, India has proudly ascended to possess the fourth-largest refinery capacity in the world. He promised that this strategic capacity is slated to expand even further. “It is strictly due to these relentless efforts that India has successfully fought and fully recovered from the biggest energy crisis of the century,” noted Shri Modi.
He also promised an imminent end to the Shekhawati region’s water crisis and announced the major expansion of the Jaipur Metro network. “These crucial infrastructure projects will fundamentally impart a new momentum to tourism, trade, and employment across the entire Marwar region,” highlighted PM Modi.
Reiterating that Rajasthan remains at the absolute center of the nation’s modern infrastructure push, the Prime Minister cited the new Jodhpur Airport terminal and the foundation laying of Jaipur Metro Phase-2 as prime catalysts for future growth. He specifically noted that Phase-2 will expand Jaipur’s total network beyond 50 km, seamlessly connecting the East-West and North-South corridors to drastically improve convenience for both locals and tourists. “Today, modern infrastructure is being built at such a rapid pace in Rajasthan that completely new records are being set,” remarked PM Modi.
The Prime Minister revealed that prior to the West Asian conflict, India relied on imports for 60 percent of its LPG, with 90 percent originating specifically from the highly volatile Gulf region.
But he went on to explain, how domestic refineries were rapidly reconfigured to divert gas originally meant for industrial work directly into domestic cooking gas (LPG). He proudly noted that within just seven days, these tactical shifts boosted national LPG production from 35,000 metric tonnes to 54,000 metric tonnes. “By actively focusing on our refineries, the facilities that had never produced LPG before were rapidly configured to meet the challenge,” underlined PM Modi.
Highlighting comprehensive consumer protection strategies, the Prime Minister explained the aggressive expansion of PNG (piped natural gas) connections to alleviate the massive national demand for traditional cylinder gas. He pointed out that the government successfully connected over 11 lakh households to the piped network in an incredibly short timeframe. “The government specifically ensured that the entire load of cooking gas demand did not fall exclusively on LPG,” noted PM Modi.
Addressing the severe global spike in petrol and diesel prices, where crude oil surged from US$70 to US$120 per barrel, the Prime Minister reminded the audience that India lacks massive domestic oil reserves. He recalled how numerous nations were forced to implement strict fuel rationing as prices surged globally by 40 to 50 percent. “In many countries around the world, diesel and petrol were being strictly distributed on a quota basis due to closed import routes,” observed PM Modi.
Emphasizing the financial sacrifices made by the state to protect citizens, the Prime Minister revealed that the government proactively absorbed a staggering loss of over Rs.75,000 crore between April and June alone. He further detailed the decision to slash excise duty by Rs.10 per liter to guarantee an uninterrupted and affordable supply, even in remote areas. “In India, such dire scarcity situations did not arise for even a single day, and we did not let too much burden fall on the public,” he affirmed.
Crediting India’s robust and proactive foreign policy for navigating the severe supply crunch, the Prime Minister detailed how the nation strategically leveraged its diplomatic clout to expand its fuel import base from just 25-26 countries to over 40 nations. He emphasized that this decisive maneuvering sent a powerful, uncompromising message to the international community. “India delivered a crystal-clear message to the entire world that for us, the national interest and the welfare of our citizens remain completely paramount,” asserted PM Modi.
Turning to the agricultural sector’s vulnerabilities, the Prime Minister detailed the severe fertilizer shortages triggered by the Ukraine war, which drove global urea prices above Rs.3,000 per bag. Outlining a massive multi-pronged defensive response, including providing urea at just Rs.300 via lakhs of crores in subsidies, assigning embassies to secure alternative global routes, and aggressively promoting natural farming, he underscored a strict crackdown on hoarding and black marketing. “Through extensive subsidies and alternative supply chains, we actively ensured our farmers received vital urea at absolutely minimal costs.”
Emphasizing the critical importance of safeguarding the industrial backbone, the Prime Minister explained the strategic deployment of the next phase of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme to protect MSMEs from skyrocketing operational costs. By facilitating an additional 20 percent loan from banks backed by a 100 percent government guarantee, he noted that small and cottage industries were effectively shielded from economic collapse. “It is the direct result of many such crucial financial interventions that our small and large industries are feeling completely secure today,” said PM Modi.
He announced a landmark Rs.34,000 crore agreement between the governments of Rajasthan and Haryana, and listed out a plan to lay an underground pipeline from the Hathnikund Barrage. He emphasized that this unprecedented mutual consent will effectively bring life-saving water to lakhs of residents across Sikar, Churu, Jhunjhunu, and the entire Shekhawati region.
Expanding on upcoming hydro-infrastructure initiatives, the Prime Minister outlined the future transformative benefits of completing the Renuka, Lakhwar, and Kishau dams in the Upper Yamuna Basin, alongside the Ramjal Setu project for rural tap water. He also celebrated the massive success of the ‘Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari’ campaign, which has created over 25 lakh soak pits nationally and 1.25 lakh in Rajasthan to drastically improve critical groundwater levels. “Through these massive collaborative efforts, precious water is being systematically conserved and the regional groundwater levels are steadily improving,” said the PM. Fiinews.com
