Fuel retailing rules relaxed

The cabinet on Wednesday relaxed the norms for setting up fuel stations in the country, a move that could help private and foreign firms to enter a sector dominated by state-owned companies. The new rules will allow companies to set up electric vehicle charging stations, and sell gas, petrol and diesel at their pumps, information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar told a news conference.

“Companies would be able to sell all sorts of transportation fuels at their petrol pumps,” Javadekar said.

Global oil companies such as Saudi Aramco, Trafigura’s downstream arm Puma Energy and France’s Total are interested in setting up fuel stations in India, where demand is expected to rise in the years to come.