India imports petrol as covid-19 drives preference for personal mobility

MUMBAI: The preference for personal mobility over private transport in view of the surge in covid-19 cases has resulted in higher petrol sales, forcing oil marketing companies (OMCs) to import the fuel for the first time in a year.

State-run Indian Oil Corp. Ltd (IOCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) are buying petrol from the spot market to meet the increasing demand, officials said. “We are buying petrol now as demand for ti has outpaced that of diesel. Due to mismatch between the demand of diesel and petrol, our crude throughput has been impacted. So, we have had to buy it from the spot market,” said a senior OMC official requesting anonymity.

BPCL has bought 20,000 tonnes of petrol, IOCL bought 30,000 tonnes.