

Never waste an oil crisis: Time to go for market-oriented reforms in India’s oil and gas sector
In every crisis lies an opportunity, it is said. At the very least, today’s hydrocarbon crisis should re-open India’s forlorn debate on pushing oil and gas into a closer market embrace as a sector. Ever since we ran into supply snarls that began with yet another war in West Asia, shock-absorbers have been in focus, along with our import dependence.To be sure, this is no ordinary shock.
International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol has described it as being worse than the twin oil shocks of the 1970s and the gas crisis after Europe’s 2022 outbreak of war combined. For enduring resilience, however, we need structural change. Policy must not just enlarge the scope for domestic exploration and production while we speed up our transition to clean energy, both of which demand a comprehensive central plan, but also explore the advantages of a vibrant domestic market for oil products that can get supply in better sync with demand to deliver superior outcomes.
What might such a market-reform agenda look like? First, cast GST’s net to cover all petroleum products (not just a few); second, free retail fuel pricing of state influence (in practice); and third, privatize all state-run oil marketing companies (barring one).All three aim for market orientation. All require political will.Consider the benefits. Full coverage of petroleum products by India’s goods and services tax (GST) would enable input tax credits on fuel inputs, easing a cost cascade that burdens businesses.
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