Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has urged India’s petroleum retailers to embrace a transformative role in the country’s energy landscape, calling on them to become active partners in building a cleaner, digitally agile and customer-centric energy ecosystem. Addressing the Plenary Session of the All India Petroleum Dealers Association (AIPDA) Conclave, Puri positioned petroleum dealers not merely as service providers, but as pivotal actors in achieving the nation’s long-term energy goals.
Acknowledging concerns regarding dealer commissions, operational expenditures and market asymmetries, Puri reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to “consultation, not confrontation.” He cited the October 2024 dealer margin revision and intra-state freight rationalisation as examples of responsive policy changes. Structured grievance redressal mechanisms will continue to be enhanced, he said, ensuring two-way engagement between the government and its frontline retail partners.
The Minister reflected on five years of global disruption—marked by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions—during which India emerged as a global energy leader. He stated that India accounted for 16 percent of worldwide growth in crude oil consumption and is projected to contribute 25 percent over the next three decades. The government’s energy resilience has ensured affordable and uninterrupted access for citizens despite volatile global markets.
Puri highlighted India’s ethanol blending success, which reached nearly 20 percent in 2025, up from just 1.53 percent in 2014. This has yielded foreign exchange savings of Rs 1.4 lakh crore, substituted 238 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil and cut carbon emissions by 717 lakh metric tonnes. Payments of Rs 1.21 lakh crore have gone directly to farmers. Additionally, CNG infrastructure has expanded from 738 stations in 2014 to over 8,100, and 10.33 crore LPG connections have been provided under PMUY, improving health and social outcomes nationwide.
Commending dealers who interface daily with over 67 million consumers, Puri described them as “the physical interface between the Indian citizen and the national energy system.” He emphasized that as India diversifies sources and reduces oil dependency, the retail network’s importance in maintaining accessibility, affordability and availability continues to grow. From Ladakh to Lakshadweep, dealers have ensured fuel delivery during disasters, emergencies and elections.
Puri called for a full-scale revamp of petrol retail outlets into hubs of digital excellence and consumer trust—featuring automated billing, clean toilets, robust safety norms, and transparent customer service. He advocated deployment of anti-pilferage tech, digital dispensing and grievance protocols as standard. The addition of non-fuel services like EV charging, fintech kiosks, battery swapping and convenience stores should also be embraced, creating diversified income streams.
Encouraging dealers to evolve into energy entrepreneurs, Puri urged training for frontline staff in customer service, digital platforms and compliance. He endorsed partnerships with Oil Marketing Companies to implement rooftop solar, automated monitoring systems, and energy-efficient infrastructure. Retail outlets should act as strategic assets in disaster response, public health drives and civic campaigns.
Specifically, Puri asked petroleum dealers to monetize prime real estate by offering services such as water kiosks, communication hubs, utility bill collection points and financial products. He emphasized that as India navigates the global energy transition and strives to become a Viksit Bharat, petroleum dealers will play an increasingly dynamic role at every step.
He concluded with a call to action: move beyond margin concerns and redefine the future of petroleum retailing. The conclave, he said, should mark the beginning of a new journey—one that positions the dealer network not just as fuel vendors, but as catalysts for India’s energy transformation.
