New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reviewed with senior ministers the situation regarding crude oil, gas and other petroleum products, as well as energy and fertilizer sectors in view of the development Western Asia situation.
Government sources said the focus of the meeting was to ensure uninterrupted supply, sustainable logistics and efficient distribution across the country.
Union Ministers Rajnath Singh (Defence), Amit Shah (Home), Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Agriculture), S Jaishankar (External Powers), Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), JP Nadda (Health), Piyush Goyal (Commerce and Industry) and Ashwini Vaishwayl, among those who attended the summit (R. said.
Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal (Ports and Transport), Manohar Lal Khattar (Power), Pralhad Joshi (Food and Consumer Affairs), Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu (Civil Aviation) and Hardeep Singh Puri (Oil), NSA Ajit Doval and two secretaries to the Prime Minister and two principal secretaries of the KP, Shaktitakan, were also present.
The situation regarding the crude oil, gas, petroleum products and energy and fertilizers sectors was reviewed in view of the developing situation of West Asia, the sources said.
The government is taking proactive steps to ensure an uninterrupted supply of all essential commodities, including petroleum products, they said.
The meeting reviewed the current global situation in the wake of the West Asian conflict and measures taken to protect the interests of consumers and industry, which is the government’s main focus, sources said.
On March 12, Prime Minister Modi had said that the war in West Asia has caused a worldwide energy crisis, presenting a critical test of national character that requires handling the circumstances through peace, patience and raising public awareness.
The Prime Minister emphasized that his government is working tirelessly to address the disruptions that have emerged in international supply chains.
“Continuous efforts are also underway to determine how we can overcome the disruptions that have occurred in the supply chain,” Modi said.
The prime minister has spoken to many global leaders since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28, when the US and Israel attacked Iran. Iran has retaliated by targeting Israel and some of its Gulf neighbors.
Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, a major sea route through which 20 percent of the world’s energy is transported. Since the conflict, very few ships have been allowed by Iran to pass through it.
The blockade has resulted in severe disruptions in power supply in many countries, including India.
Since the conflict, Modi has held phone conversations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, France, Malaysia, Israel and Iran.
