Lok Sabha Question No. 1558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-13
Subject: Acute Shortage of Petrol, Diesel and LPG in Nicobar District
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray

## ACUTE SHORTAGE OF PETROL, DIESEL AND LPG IN NICOBAR DISTRICT

## 1558.  SHRI BISHNU PADA RAY:

## पेᮝोिलयम और ᮧाकृ ितक गैस मंᮢी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is true that the vehicular and other consumers in Nicobar district frequently face acute shortage of petrol, diesel and LPG supply;

(b) if so, the details of the shortage, including the extent and duration of the deficiency;

(c) the reasons for the recurring or ongoing shortage of fuel in the Nicobar district;

(d) whether any steps have been taken/proposed to be taken by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration and the Union Government to address the shortage by ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply in the region and if so, the details thereof; and

(e)  whether  there  is  any  long-term  plan  to  resolve  the  deficiency  permanently  and  if  so,  the  details thereof along with the proposed infrastructure or supply chain improvements?

## ANSWER

## पेᮝोिलयम और ᮧाकृ ितक गैस मंᮢालय मᱶ रा᭔य मंᮢी ( ᮰ी सुरेश गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

- (a) to (e) Indian  Oil  Corporation  Ltd.  (IOCL)  has  informed  that  demand  for  Petroleum,  Oil  and  Lubricant (POL)  products  in  Nicobar  is  met  through  2  Retail  Outlets  (ROs)  of  IOCL  which  have  storage capacity with 75 days coverage. In addition, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIDCO), an Administration run Public Undertaking has Retail Outlets in Kamorta, Teressa, Katchal and Great Nicobar. Petroleum products to ROs are supplied through a dedicated IOCL POL Terminal located at Haddo, Port Blair. Further, the LPG Bottling plant at Port Blair has adequate capacity (rated capacity 15 TMTPA) to meet the demand (13.8 TMT in FY23-24 for UT  of Andaman  &  Nicobar) of Nicobar Islands.For streamlined distribution, Tribal Development Cooperative Society  (TDCS) has  been nominated as  LPG  distributor  in  Nancowry group of Islands.

Supply of Petroleum products to the various islands of Nicobar district is executed through Barrel ISO-Containers which are loaded through ship provided by private ship operators that carry POL products  along  with  others  with  average  turnaround  time  of  15-20  days  subject  to  weather conditions.However,  the  positioning  of  POL  products  and  LPG  is  fully  dependent  on  the  vessel schedule  program  arranged  by  the  private  companies  which  sometimes  does  not  coincide  with IOCL's requirement due weather extremities or ship maintenance issues.

IOCL has taken several initiatives to  mitigate  the chances of dry out of POL products  including supply  of  Motor  Spirit  (MS)/High  Speed  Diesel(HSD)  through  4  KL  ISO  containers  ensuring supply  of  higher  quantity  of  product  to  the  retail  outlets,  which  was  supplied  in  barrels  till 03.08.2023. Also, one multi modal barge has been put into operations that is dedicated for carrying HSD  &  High  Flash  High  Speed  Diesel  (HFHSD)  (Diesel  and  Bunker  Fuel)  to  expedite  fast movement of POL products to various islands.

Expansion  of  Retail  Outletand  LPG  network  by  PSU  OMCs  is  a  continuous  process  to  ensure adequate availability MS/HSD and LPG throughout the country including Andaman and Nicobar Islands. ROs/LPG distributorships are set up by PSU OMCs at identified locations based on field survey and feasibility studies.

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