Fuel consumption falls 9.1% in FY21; first drop since 1998-99

Stringent lockdown led to the contraction in demand

India’s fuel demand contracted by a massive 9.1% in the financial year ended March 31, the first in more than two decades, as a stringent lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the pandemic pummelled economic activity, government data showed on Friday. India consumed 194.63 million tonnes of petroleum products in 2020-21 as compared with 214.12 million tonnes demand in the previous year, according to the latest data released by the Oil Ministry’s Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell . This is the first time fuel consumption has contracted since 1998-99, the most historical year for which government data is available.