BPCL to continue offering subsidised LPG ‘for some time’ post privatisation

Customers of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) will continue getting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at subsidised rates post the privatisation of the oil marketing company (OMC). However, the move will not necessarily lead to opening up of subsidised LPG segment to private players, according to a senior government official.

Tarun Kapoor, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, told The Indian Express the government would ensure that LPG customers of BPCL, including those under the Ujjwala scheme, would be able to continue purchasing LPG from the company post privatisation. “The entire private sector cannot be brought at the same level, but BPCL, even after it gets privatised, has to continue to handle these customers at least for some time. Therefore, a separate arrangement has to be worked out,” said Kapoor.