Govt may reduce petrol prices if crude globally falls further: Jaipal Reddy

09 Aug 2011 Evaluate

The prices of petrol are expected to be reduced in India as the prices of crude oil in the international markets are declining sharply. The Oil Minister S. Jaipal Reddy on August 8 indicated that India, which is the world’s fourth largest consumer of petroleum product may reduce the domestic petrol prices. 'If prices globally come down sharply, and in a stable way, naturally the price of petrol will be adjusted downwards,' however by adding further he said, 'the softening trend must be stable.'

Last year, the government had deregulated the petrol prices, after the deregulation, the domestic prices are linked to the international crude oil prices. In June, when India changed taxes, bringing domestic prices on par with market rates, Brent crude was trading at about $106 barrel, almost equal to level as August 8 prices.

The Oil Minister said the decline in global oil prices was still not enough for India to implement a cut in domestic pump prices. In May, State Owned Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) has hiked the petrol prices by Rs 5 due to the hovering international crude oil prices. Crude oil reduced by more than 3% due to the fear of economic slowdown in the US economy after the degradation of sovereign credit of US by the top-tier credit rating Standard & Poor's.

'Our (assumption) was that oil prices for the year would be $100 per barrel. That level has not been reached,' Reddy said.

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