Latest news with #HardeepSinghPuri

The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Union Petroleum Minister promises ₹48 crore for cancer treatment equipment in three government general hospitals in Andhra Pradesh
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has, in principle, assured ₹48 crore financial assistance from his Ministry towards providing medical equipment for treatment of cancer in the government general hospitals in Kakinada, Guntur and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh. At a meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications P. Chandra Sekhar and Rajya Sabha member S. Sathish Babu, who hails from Kakinada, urged the Union Minister to provide the equipment under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a release issued by Mr. Sathish Babu said. 'Mr. Hardeep Singh has assured to offer ₹48 crore through the CSR fund from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) towards providing medical equipment for cancer screening and radiation treatment,' the release said. 'The equipment, each worth ₹16 crore, will be installed in the government general hospitals for better cancer treatment in the respective regions,' Mr. Sathish Babu added.


Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Indian refiners' June crude processing drops 4.2% from a month earlier
Indian refiners' crude throughput declined by 4.2% month-on-month in June to 5.41 million barrels per day (22.13 million metric tons), according to provisional government data released on Tuesday. Refinery throughput in May was at 5.47 million barrels per day (23.11 million metric tons). On a year-on-year basis, refinery throughput fell 0.3%. India's fuel consumption fell 4.7% in June from the previous month to 20.31 million metric tons, oil ministry data showed. India is the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer. 'Looking at the last years, refinery runs every year declined from May into June, likely driven by seasonally declining domestic oil demand due to the monsoon,' said Giovanni Stau novo, an analyst at UBS. Indian Oil to upgrade Panipat diesel refinery for green jet fuel production Meanwhile, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India is confident of meeting its oil needs from alternative sources if Russian supplies are hit by secondary sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to hit buyers of Russian exports with sanctions unless Russia agrees a peace deal over the conflict in Ukraine, potentially complicating Moscow's oil sales to China, India and Turkey. India's monthly oil imports from Russia in June surged 17.4% to about 2 million barrels per day, data provided by trade sources showed. India's state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation is exploring building a 200,000-240,000 barrel-per-day refinery at Jamnagar in the western Indian state of Gujarat, a company source said last week.


Reuters
a day ago
- Business
- Reuters
Indian refiners' June crude processing drops 4.2% from a month earlier
July 22 (Reuters) - Indian refiners' crude throughput declined by 4.2% month-on-month in June to 5.41 million barrels per day (22.13 million metric tons), according to provisional government data released on Tuesday. Refinery throughput in May was at 5.47 million barrels per day (23.11 million metric tons). On a year-on-year basis, refinery throughput fell 0.3%. India's fuel consumption fell 4.7% in June from the previous month to 20.31 million metric tons, oil ministry data showed. India is the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer. "Looking at the last years, refinery runs every year declined from May into June, likely driven by seasonally declining domestic oil demand due to the monsoon," said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS. Meanwhile, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India is confident of meeting its oil needs from alternative sources if Russian supplies are hit by secondary sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to hit buyers of Russian exports with sanctions unless Russia agrees a peace deal over the conflict in Ukraine, potentially complicating Moscow's oil sales to China, India and Turkey. India's monthly oil imports from Russia in June surged 17.4% to about 2 million barrels per day, data provided by trade sources showed. India's state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation ( opens new tab is exploring building a 200,000-240,000 barrel-per-day refinery at Jamnagar in the western Indian state of Gujarat, a company source said last week. REFINERY PRODUCTION IN TERMS OF CRUDE THROUGHPUT (in 1,000 tons): Source: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas IOC: Indian Oil Corp ( opens new tab BPCL: Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd ( opens new tab HPCL: Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd ( opens new tab CPCL: Chennai Petroleum Corp Ltd ( opens new tab MRPL: Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd ( opens new tab Reliance Industries Ltd ( opens new tab Please note that CPCL's CBR refinery is de-commissioned under shutdown due to limitation in meeting required product specifications with the existing configuration.


New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Weekly Review: Rupee slips marginally, commodities trade volatile
CHENNAI: During the week of July 14 to 18, the Indian rupee saw a mild depreciation while commodity markets remained volatile, with silver continuing its strong upward trend and crude oil staying elevated due to global supply concerns. Rupee: The Indian rupee weakened slightly against the US dollar over the week. It started around 85.97 on July 14 and closed near 86.14 on July 18, reflecting a depreciation of about 10–15 paise. The currency remained in a narrow range of 85.98–86.15 throughout the week, with low volatility. Persistent foreign fund outflows and global dollar strength contributed to the rupee's subdued performance. Crude Oil: Crude oil prices stayed firm amid geopolitical concerns. Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri warned that prices could spike to $130–140 per barrel if Russian supplies are disrupted. India has continued to diversify its oil import sources to mitigate price shocks. Though exact price movements varied daily, overall sentiment remained cautious due to potential supply constraints. Gold: Gold prices softened slightly over the week. On July 14, 24K gold was priced around ₹9,988 per gram, falling to ₹9,933 by July 17, and recovering marginally to ₹9,934–9,938 by July 18. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures for August hovered around ₹97,559 per 10 grams. Globally, gold prices held near $3,344 per ounce but ended the week around 0.5% lower due to stronger US economic data and a firm dollar.


Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Petroleum dealers must become active partners in India's energy transition: Hardeep Puri
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri , urged petroleum dealers across the country to transform into active partners in India's energy transition, while addressing the Plenary Session of the All India Petroleum Dealers Association ( AIPDA ) conclave. AIPDA is the largest national body representing petroleum retail outlet dealers. The Minister emphasised the importance of embracing green initiatives, enhancing digital readiness , and evolving business models in line with India's dynamic energy landscape. Recognising the pivotal role played by petroleum dealers in the energy ecosystem, Minister Puri acknowledged concerns related to dealer commissions, operational costs, and other issues. He assured the gathering that the Ministry believes in "consultation, not confrontation," and cited the revision of dealer margins in October 2024 and the implementation of intra-state freight rationalisation as concrete steps taken to address disparities. He further said that structured platforms for feedback and grievance redressal would continue to be strengthened. Reflecting on the challenges of the past five years--including the COVID-19 pandemic and global geopolitical conflicts--Minister Puri noted that India not only navigated these disruptions effectively but also emerged as a global leader in energy growth. Despite global volatility, India accounted for 16 per cent of global growth in crude oil consumption and is projected to contribute 25 per cent of such growth over the next three decades. The Government, he said, has ensured affordable and uninterrupted energy supply to citizens, even during times of global uncertainty. Highlighting India's achievements in the biofuels sector , the Minister noted that nearly 20 per cent ethanol blending has been achieved in 2025, a significant rise from 1.53 per cent in 2014. This accomplishment has resulted in Rs 1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange savings, substitution of 238 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, a reduction of 717 lakh metric tonnes in CO₂ emissions, and direct payments of Rs 1.21 lakh crore to farmers. He also cited the expansion of CNG stations from 738 in 2014 to over 8,100 today and the provision of 10.33 crore LPG connections under PMUY, empowering women and improving health outcomes. "These numbers are not just achievements; they are milestones on our journey towards a cleaner, self-reliant energy future," he said. Appreciating the dedication of petroleum dealers who serve over 67 million customers daily, Minister Puri stated, "You are the physical interface between the Indian citizen and the national energy system." He emphasized that as India reduces crude oil imports, diversifies energy sources, and boosts renewables, the role of dealers becomes crucial in ensuring accessibility, availability, and affordability--the three pillars of energy justice. He lauded the dealer network's reach from Ladakh to Lakshadweep, ensuring fuel availability even during emergencies, natural disasters, and elections. Minister Puri called for a transformation of retail outlets into centres of customer excellence, where digital payments, automated billing, clean toilets, strict safety protocols, and effective grievance redressal become the norm. He urged adoption of technologies that enable zero pilferage, zero tampering, and complete transparency. He also emphasized the growing relevance of non-fuel services at outlets, such as convenience stores, EV charging, utility bill payments, and fintech services, which can enhance customer experience and provide new revenue streams. The Minister laid out a roadmap for dealers to reposition themselves as energy entrepreneurs. He advised the community to upskill their workforce through structured training in customer service, digital tools, and safety standards. He encouraged collaboration with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to implement EV charging points, rooftop solar installations, and energy-efficient infrastructure. Minister Puri also stressed the importance of adopting digital dispensing systems, automated monitoring, and transparent auditing to strengthen consumer trust. He highlighted the strategic importance of the dealer network in supporting national objectives like disaster response, public health drives, and voter awareness campaigns. Minister Puri particularly urged the petroleum dealer fraternity to leverage the prime locations of their retail outlets to generate Non-Fuel Revenue (NFR) by offering services such as communication hubs, battery swapping stations, water kiosks, and digital financial services. He reiterated that as India navigates the complexities of a rapidly changing energy landscape and works towards becoming a Viksit Bharat, petroleum dealers will continue to play a central and evolving role. Concluding his address, the Minister called upon dealers to look beyond retail margins and redefine their role in line with the vision of energy self-reliance . "Let this conclave be not just a gathering of peers, but the starting point of a new journey--a journey that takes you beyond retail, beyond margins, and into the very heart of India's energy transformation," he said. Minister Puri appreciated the enthusiastic participation of AIPDA members from across the country and assured the government's continued support for the collective benefit of citizens, dealers, and Oil Marketing Companies.