STOCKING UP

CENTRE IS USING THE BREATHER TO TANK UP FUEL STORAGE AS WELL AS INDIA'S STRATEGIC OIL RESERVES

- NEVIN JOHN

The collapse in oil prices on March 9 after Saudi Arabia started a price war with Russia has crashed crude oil prices to their lowest since 2003. That is a double blessing for India, the world's third-largest crude oil importer which meets over 80 per cent of its oil needs from abroad. One, it reduces India's crude import bill drastically, a big relief when rupee has been weakening against the dollar.

More importantly, the government is using this opportunity to tank up fuel storage facilities to meet the demand surge when the lockdown is lifted. In the post-COVID situation, availability of adequate fuel is critical to restart the economy.