
Petroleum dealers must become active partners in India's energy transition: Hardeep Puri
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.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
24 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Kacholia, SRK-backed Sri Lotus IPO sets price band: All you should know
Shri Lotus Developers IPO: Shri Lotus Developers and Realty, a real estate developer backed by several Bollywood celebrities and ace investor Ashish Kacholia, has set the price band of its maiden public issue in the range of ₹140 to ₹150 per equity share. The company aims to raise ₹792 crore through a fresh issue of 52.8 million equity shares. There is no offer for sale (OFS) component. The lot size for an application is 100. Accordingly, a retail investor would require a minimum investment amount of ₹15,000 to bid for one lot or 100 shares. According to the red herring prospectus (RHP), the company has reserved not more than 50 per cent of the issue for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), 35 per cent for retail investors and 15 per cent for non-institutional investors (NIIs). Kfintech Technologies is the registrar for the issue. Monarch Networth Capital and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors are the book-running lead managers. According to the RHP, the issue will open for subscription on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, and close on Friday, August 1, 2025. The anchor investor period shall be one day prior to the opening date, i.e. Tuesday, July 29, 2025. The basis of allotment of shares is likely to be finalised on Monday, August 4, 2025. The stock will be listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and BSE, tentatively on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. The company plans to use ₹550 crore from the net issue proceeds for investment in subsidiaries Richfeel Real Estate, Dhyan Projects and Tryksha Real Estate for part-funding development and construction costs of ongoing projects like Amalfi, The Arcadian and Varun, respectively. The remaining funds will be used for general corporate purposes. The company is backed by several Bollywood celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Hritik Roshan, Tiger Jackie Shroff, Manoj Vajpayee, and more are also part of the shareholders list of the company, as shown in the RHP. In December 2024, the company raised around ₹400 crore through a private placement of 26.61 million shares at ₹150 per share. Investor Ashish Kacholia had also purchased 3.3 million shares for ₹50 crore. About Sri Lotus Developers Mumbai-based Sri Lotus Developers is involved in the development of residential and commercial premises, with a focus in redevelopment projects in the ultra luxury segment and luxury segment in the western suburbs. It is led by promoter Anand Kamalnayan Pandit. The company classifies its projects into three main categories, including Greenfield Projects, Redevelopment Projects and Joint Development Projects. It specialises in high-end developments, including 2BHK and 3BHK flats priced between Rs 3 crore and Rs 7 crore, as well as larger units and premium office spaces. In the fiscal 2024-25 (FY25), Sri Lotus reported a revenue from operations of ₹549.68 crore, up 19 per cent from ₹461.57 crore in the previous fiscal. The company's net profit increased 90 per cent to ₹227.8 crore in FY25 from ₹119.8 crore in FY24. It reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of ₹228.96 crore, up 82 per cent from ₹158.5 crore in the previous fiscal. Ebitda margins expanded from 34.35 per cent to 52.57 per cent in the same period.


Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Global coal demand hits record 8.8 bn tonnes in 2024, to remain flat through 2026: IEA
New Delhi: Global coal demand reached a record high of 8.8 billion tonnes in 2024, up 1.5% from 2023, driven by rising consumption in China, India, Indonesia, and other emerging economies, the International Energy Agency ( IEA ) said in its Coal Market Mid-Year Update released on Thursday. The increase in 2024 came despite declines in advanced economies in Europe, North America and northeast Asia. However, the IEA said the global coal demand is expected to remain broadly unchanged in 2025 and 2026. 'While we have seen contrasting trends in different regions in the first half of 2025, these do not alter the underlying trajectory of global coal demand,' said Keisuke Sadamori, IEA Director of Energy Markets and Security. 'We expect the world's coal consumption to remain broadly flat this year and next, in line with our previous forecast, although short-term fluctuations remain possible in different regions due to weather conditions and the high degree of economic and geopolitical uncertainty.' China, India see H1 decline; US coal use rises In the first half of 2025, coal demand declined in China and India due to lower growth in electricity demand and a sharp rise in renewable power generation . In contrast, coal consumption rose by around 10% in the United States, where strong electricity demand and higher natural gas prices led to increased coal-based power generation. In the European Union, coal use remained broadly stable, with reduced industrial demand offset by higher use for power generation. For the full year 2025, coal demand in China is expected to fall slightly—by less than 1%. In the United States, it is projected to rise by around 7%, while the EU is expected to see a decline of nearly 2%. Production to rise in 2025, trade volumes to fall Global coal production is projected to increase to a new record in 2025, led by output gains in China and India as both countries continue to prioritise energy security. However, coal production is expected to fall in 2026 due to high stock levels and declining prices. Coal trade volumes , which had been growing in recent years, are forecast to shrink in 2025 for the first time since the Covid-19-driven downturn of 2020. The contraction is expected to extend into 2026, marking the first two-year decline in global coal trade volumes this century. Indonesia is expected to register the largest fall in output by volume in 2025. Meanwhile, Russian coal exporters are likely to face the most significant economic strain due to falling prices and current market conditions. The IEA report said that while coal prices have dropped to levels last seen in early 2021, economic pressure on producers remains high amid persistent oversupply. China remains key driver of global trends The IEA said China continues to shape global coal trends more than any other country, consuming almost 30% more coal than the rest of the world combined. Coal use in China spans both power generation and industrial sectors such as steel and chemicals. 'The power sector remains the dominant source of coal demand in China and globally. But industrial use of coal in China is also large enough to influence global trends,' the report said.

Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
China Welcomes India's Visa Restart, Calls It Positive Step Toward Better People-To-People Ties
'No More Indian Workers, Or China Factories': Trump's Blunt Warning To US Tech Giants Like Apple US President Donald Trump has launched a bold new 'America's AI Action Plan,' vowing to reclaim tech dominance from China, but he's also aiming directly at India. In a fiery speech, Trump criticized tech giants like Apple and Tesla for relying on Indian workers and Chinese factories. 'No more iPhones from India,' Trump warned, threatening a 25% import tax on Apple and Samsung if they don't build in the USA. The plan, detailed in a 25-page document, calls for accelerating AI innovation, building US infrastructure, and halting foreign dependence. Trump's message is clear: American AI should be made in America. But this could disrupt India's IT sector, outsourcing industry, and its growing role in global tech. Is India being unfairly targeted? Or is this the start of a global AI war? #trump #ai #india #china #trumpvsindia #apple #outsourcing #indiantech #aiwar #americaai #usachinawar #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews 151 views | 1 hour ago