The Oil Ministry is now preparing to enter fuel retail, such as ₹2,000 crore worth of infrastructure investment with hefty bank guarantees.
In a bid to make fuel more accessible, the government could soon allow supermarkets to sell petrol and diesel.
- Till now oil marketing companies (OMCs) were directly offering the doorstep service
- Private fuel retailers such as Reliance Industries and Essar Oil, now renamed Nayara Energy, and some start-ups will also be allowed to offer doorstep delivery of diesel if they show interest and obtain required permissions.
- The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), which works under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, has been obtained to scale up pilots.
Start-ups will also be allowed to do pilots. They will source from one of the fuel retailers and will be overseen by them. However, the responsibility of the safe distribution of fuel will lie with the fuel retailer.
Diesel has been selected for pilots as it is considered less hazardous than petrol once taken out of the licensed area for dispensing into the motor vehicle.
Now start-ups will also be allowed to do pilots. They will source from one of the fuel retailers and will be overseen by them. However, the responsibility of the safe distribution of fuel will lie with the fuel retailer.
