At AIPDA Conclave, Union Minister calls on fuel retailers to embrace clean energy, digital innovation, and redefine their role as frontline energy entrepreneurs

18 July 2025, New Delhi

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday made a clarion call to India’s petroleum dealers to become catalysts in the nation’s green energy transformation. Speaking at the Plenary Session of the All India Petroleum Dealers Association (AIPDA) Conclave in New Delhi, the Minister urged fuel retailers to move beyond traditional operations and become active participants in reshaping India’s energy future.

Shri Puri acknowledged the vital role of over 70,000 petroleum dealers who serve more than 67 million customers every day. He reassured the fraternity that the government is committed to addressing long-standing concerns such as commission structures and operational challenges. Citing the October 2024 revision of dealer margins and rationalization of intra-state freight as key steps, he promised a continued spirit of “consultation, not confrontation.”

Highlighting India’s resilient energy journey amid global shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, Shri Puri emphasized that India now accounts for 16% of the global increase in crude oil consumption—a figure expected to rise to 25% in the coming decades. “We ensured affordable, uninterrupted energy supply when the world saw chaos,” he remarked.

One of the major highlights of his address was India’s significant progress in biofuels. Ethanol blending has surged from just 1.53% in 2014 to nearly 20% in 2025. This shift has not only saved ₹1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange but also substituted 238 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, reduced CO₂ emissions by 717 lakh metric tonnes, and added ₹1.21 lakh crore to the incomes of Indian farmers.

The expansion of the CNG station network to over 8,100 outlets and the distribution of more than 10.33 crore LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) were presented as key steps toward equitable, clean energy access.

Calling petroleum dealers the “foot soldiers” of India’s energy transformation, Shri Puri proposed a new vision for fuel retailing—where outlets double as hubs of customer experience, technology, and sustainability. He encouraged investments in digital billing, clean facilities, safety standards, and non-fuel services such as EV charging, fintech kiosks, and convenience stores.

“Transform your stations into energy innovation centres,” he said, urging dealers to collaborate with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to install solar panels, introduce battery-swapping solutions, and digitize dispensing systems. He also underscored the need for workforce upskilling to align with emerging technologies.

The Minister emphasized that petroleum dealers have long supported the nation beyond business—be it disaster response or democratic awareness—and must now extend that spirit to environmental responsibility.

“As we work toward a Viksit Bharat, your role is no longer confined to retail margins,” Shri Puri concluded. “Let this conclave mark a new chapter where dealers become the torchbearers of India’s green, self-reliant energy future.”