Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged Indians to use petrol and diesel sparingly amid the deepening West Asia crisis, framing fuel conservation as a national-interest measure that would save foreign exchange and reduce the war’s impact on the Indian economy.
“The need of the hour is to use petro products with restraint,” Modi said at an event in Telangana where he virtually laid the foundation stone and inaugurated several development projects. Imported petro products, he said, should be used “only as per need, as it will not only save foreign exchange but also reduce the adverse impact of war.”
The Indian leader cited progress on alternatives — India is now among the top countries in the world for solar power, and ethanol blending in petrol has expanded sharply over recent years, he said. Government focus is now shifting from full LPG coverage to economical piped gas distribution.
The public conservation appeal from Sri Lanka’s largest neighbour and a key fuel-supply partner is a signal that West Asia disruption is continuing to weigh on South Asian energy security. India is a primary source for Sri Lanka’s refined fuel imports, and Brent crude remains elevated above US$100 a barrel as Hormuz transit risk persists. Modi’s framing also lands as Sri Lanka and India discuss expediting post-cyclone reconstruction and pursue longer-term energy hub plans at Trincomalee.
Source: Ada Derana.
