Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on Saturday said there is no nationwide shortage of petrol or diesel, clarifying that supply disruptions reported at a few fuel stations were temporary and confined to select areas amid a sharp rise in fuel demand.

The country’s largest fuel retailer said fuel outages at some outlets were caused by local demand-supply mismatches and shifting sales patterns, while overall inventories and supplies across its nationwide network remained adequate.

Petrol sales during May 1-22 rose 14 per cent year-on-year, while diesel sales increased around 18 per cent, reflecting what the company described as “sustained and exceptionally high” demand growth.

In a statement, IOC said it “wishes to reassure customers and the general public that there is no overall shortage of petrol and diesel in the country. The current situation being witnessed at certain retail outlets is highly localised and temporary in nature, arising due to local demand-supply imbalances and redistribution of sales patterns in select areas”.

The company said only a “very small number” of outlets in its network of over 42,000 fuel stations had faced supply disruptions, while the majority continued to operate normally with adequate stocks.

IOC attributed the higher demand at some outlets to a “seasonal increase in diesel demand during the ongoing harvesting period, temporary shift of customers from certain private retail outlets, owing to relatively higher retail prices at some private pumps, and increased migration of institutional and commercial demand to PSU retail outlets, as bulk and institutional supplies are currently priced significantly higher in line with prevailing international market prices”.

The state-run oil marketing company said it, along with other public sector fuel retailers, continued to maintain sufficient fuel inventories across the country.

“Despite this sustained and exceptionally high growth in demand, IndianOil continues to consistently meet customer requirements across the country.”

“IndianOil, along with other oil marketing companies (OMCs), continues to maintain adequate overall stocks and supplies of petrol and diesel across the country,” the statement said.

“The company is closely monitoring the situation and taking adequate measures to address these isolated situations and ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies to consumers.”

IOC also urged customers to avoid panic buying, reiterating its commitment to ensuring uninterrupted fuel availability nationwide.