India opens 400 petrol pumps and 1,200 LPG distributors in Bihar

Indian Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has reportedly said that 400 petrol pumps have become operational in the state of Bihar.

A further 1,200 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distributors were also opened in the Indian state, generating employment for 20,000 people, ANI reported.

The news agency quoted Pradhan as stating: “LPG connections in Bihar have increased recently. In the last six years, 400 petrol pumps became operational in Bihar, while 1,200 LPG distributors opened.

“The capacity of existing bottling plants were increased and two new bottling plants were built. The work of the LPG pipeline from Paradip to Muzaffarpur has started to give continuous supply to these bottling plants.

“The Banka-Durgapur section has been dedicated to the nation today and will bring positive change in the lives of poor people in Bihar.”

On 13 September, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated an LPG pipeline project and bottling plants in Bihar as part of the government’s efforts to push its development agenda in the ‘poll-bound’ state.

In February, India’s state-owned Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) signed a contract with Russian energy firm Rosneft to import two million tonnes (Mt) of oil.

In March last year, India negotiated with Saudi Arabia for a potential investment in strategic oil storage to ensure oil availability in emergency situations arising out of geopolitical concerns and price volatility.