Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Monday hinted at a hike in fuel prices, asserting that a final call on it would be taken by the Group of Ministers in the meeting to be held in New Delhi on June 7.
Jet fuel prices on Monday were hiked by a steep 5.3 per cent - the tenth straight increase this year -- to an all-time high, in line with a surge in global energy prices. The price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) -- the fuel that helps aeroplanes fly -- was hiked by Rs 6,188.25 per kilolitre, or 5.29 per cent, to Rs 1,23,039.71 per kl (Rs 123 per litre) in the national capital, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. This is the 10th straight increase in jet fuel prices this year.
Ahead of the CCPA meeting, National Conference, a key constituent of the UPA, on Thursday suggested a "balancing act" while taking a decision to hike fuel prices and said the increase should be such that it does not put burden on people.
Financial services majors Citi and HSBC said the long awaited government decision to hike fuel prices is a positive step, although it will fan the already high inflation and may not prevent fiscal slippage.
Passenger car sales in the country, already witnessing a slowdown, may get further bogged down in case of a hike in fuel prices or hardening of interest rates, credit rating agency ICRA has warned.
In June, the government had decontrolled petrol, causing a hike of Rs 3.5 per litre, and increased diesel prices by Rs 2 a litre, LPG by Rs 35 a cylinder and kerosene by 3 a litre -- amid protests by opposition parties.
Jet fuel prices on Wednesday were hiked by over 18 per cent -- the steepest ever increase -- to all-time high levels after international oil price surged to a multi-year high.
ATF price in Delhi has been raised to Rs 53,309.30 per kilolitre from Rs 47,048.86 per kilolitre, an Indian Oil Corporation, the nation's largest fuel retailer, said. In Mumbai, the price rose by Rs 6,536.35 a kilolitre to Rs 55,191.58 per kilolitre.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora has announced that the cabinet will soon take a decision on fuel price hike.
IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet are opposing the government's directive to offer 60% of seats for free selection, arguing it will lead to increased airfares to compensate for lost revenue.
Aviation industry sources said some of the airlines were also planning to consolidate their flight schedules, by cutting some flights to certain select destinations. Indian carriers were also focusing on getting their products to a global standard and consolidating their domestic market, the study also pointed out.
Nayara Energy, a private fuel retailer in India, has increased petrol and diesel prices following a surge in global oil prices due to Middle East tensions. This move contrasts with state-owned retailers who continue to freeze prices.
With Opposition parties calling for a nationwide strike against the hike in fuel prices, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Wednesday justified the decision, saying the increase translated to less than Re 1 per day on domestic LPG and 26-27 paisa a day on kerosene.
Sources said both Mukherjee and Deora were in favour of Rs 2-3 a litre hike in petrol and diesel prices and Rs 25 per cylinder increase in LPG rates.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice while the opposition parties staged a walkout in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, voicing their protest against the increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas LPG.
She charged the government with profiteering at the expense of the people, saying its duty was to help them in times of crisis and not make profits out of their hard-earned money.
Notwithstanding the demand of the Left parties, Petroleum Minister Mani Shanker Iyar on Friday asserted that there would be "no rollback" of the hike in petro products prices.
The price of aviation turbine fuel, or jet fuel, in Delhi was hiked by Rs 2,797.41 per kilolitre (kl), or 4.5 per cent, to Rs 65,005.59, according to Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest oil firm.
Indian equity markets experienced a volatile session, with the Sensex and Nifty recovering some ground after a significant plunge the previous day. Gains were driven by PSU bank, IT, and metal stocks, but concerns over rising fuel prices and geopolitical tensions limited the recovery.
A core group of ministers on Wednesday held inconclusive deliberations on a proposal to raise fuel prices, necessitated by a spike in global crude prices that threatens to spawn an oil import crisis.
Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers' Association urged people not to panic-buy petrol or diesel, stating that 14 terminals in Tamil Nadu have enough stock to replenish 7,000-plus retail outlets as per their demand.
In a major decision to bring petroleum products in line with market rates, the government on Friday freed petrol from all pricing controls and hiked diesel prices by Rs 2 a litre.
Aviation turbine fuel or jet fuel price was on Wednesday hiked by a steep 9.2 per cent, while that of non-subsidised cooking gas was raised by Rs 21 per cylinder.
The meeting of the group of ministers on fuel prices scheduled for Saturday has been put off, even as the core group of UPA alliance is likely to meet on Monday morning and may discuss the issue. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the GoM on fuel prices, had on January 17 indicated a meeting at 1700 hours today for re-convening the inconclusive GoM meet of that day.
State-owned oil firms on Tuesday hiked jet fuel by 5.5 per cent in sync with rise in global rates.
Within a day of the announcement of the increase in fuel prices by Union government, the electronic-bike manufacturers have witnessed record sales in their bikes and received lot of enquiries for setting up dealers network across the country. "Hike in petrol prices is a positive development for the e-bike industry and we expect it will boost the sales of battery driven bikes by at least 5-10 per cent," Avon Cycles Senior Manager (Marketing), U S Dubey said.
The recent petrol and diesel price hike by the government did not go down well with the common people who expressed their\ndispleasure over this pre-Budget move. The prices were raised by as much as 10 per cent on Wednesday.
Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S Ramadoss said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should meet the expectations of the people that prices will go down if he took over and 'it is the duty of the new government to do that.'
As the government announced a Rs 7.50 per litre hike in petrol price from midnight, anger was written on the faces of many people.
In a unique protest against fuel price hike, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday rode pillion on an electric scooter to state secretariat Nabanna.
The price of jet fuel (ATF) was sharply increased by 7.5 per cent on Tuesday, while the cost of LPG used in commercial establishments was reduced by Rs 58.50 per cylinder, reflecting shifts in international benchmark rates. After three rounds of price cuts, aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price was increased by Rs 6,271.5 per kilolitre, or 7.5 per cent, to Rs 89,344.05 per kl in the national capital - home to one of the busiest airports in the country, according to state-owned fuel retailers.
Union Petroleum Minister disclosed the decision on fuel prices will be taken on Jan 17, in the GoM meet.
The recurrent increases in fuel prices over the past 10 days are eating into the margins of transporters, who will be forced to pass on the hikes to their customers. This, in turn, is set to make the prices of daily consumables and other goods dearer, affect consumption, and slow economic growth, said transporters and analysts. Freight rates on grand trunk routes have shot up 3-4 per cent month-on-month in the past few days, according to the Indian Foundation of Transport Research & Training (IFTRT).
The empowered group of ministers headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is being convened soon to discuss a combination of a price hike and a reduction in government duties.
State oil firms on Wednesday raised jet fuel (aviation turbine fuel) price by 5 per cent in line with the spike in international oil prices, which have touched a record $71 US a barrel.
The government may defer raising the price of fuels to early next week, after the two-day national executive meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which begins on Sunday. Such a move would provide "ammunition" to the main opposition party on a platter, according to an informed source.
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