New Delhi

Privatefuel retailers Jio-bp and Nayara Energy have capped diesel purchases at their petrol pumps as industrial and other bulk consumers increasingly shift to cheaper retail fuel, putting pressure on supplies at individual stations.

Jio-bp outlets have capped diesel purchases at 50 litres per customer per day, while limits at Nayara Energy outlets range from 70 litres to 200 litres, people aware of the matter said. Public sector retailers Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation are also likely to impose quantity restrictions.

The shift has been driven by a widening price gap between retail diesel and fuel supplied to bulk consumers. While retail petrol and diesel prices have remained unchanged since May, bulk prices have moved more closely in line with international crude prices, which have risen sharply.

The differential is as much as Rs 40 a litre, prompting factories, manufacturing units, telecom companies, hotels, malls, hospitals and data centres that use diesel for machinery or backup generators to increasingly buy fuel from retail pumps.

Some industrial users are purchasing 400-600 litres at a time, far above the quantities normally bought by motorists. The resulting surge has put pressure on stocks at individual petrol pumps, which have limited storage capacity and may take days to replenish supplies.

Jio-bp said its stations were adequately stocked but that it was taking measures to ensure equitable availability of fuel, particularly amid demand from industrial and other non-transport users. Nayara said it continued to maintain supplies across its retail network and serve both retail and bulk customers.

India’s retail fuel prices are technically market-determined, but revisions have not always moved in tandem with international oil costs. The current divergence between retail and bulk pricing has therefore created an incentive for large users to bypass dedicated bulk-fuel channels.

If the gap persists, more industrial consumers could move to retail outlets, potentially forcing wider rationing and putting pressure on fuel availability for motorists.