New Delhi, May 8 -- Oil marketing companies are facing an average monthly under-recovery of around Rs 30,000 crore on petrol, diesel and LPG sales amid rising global energy prices, even as the government continues efforts to shield consumers from price hikes, a senior Petroleum Ministry official said on Friday.

Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing here, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery) in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said, "Our oil marketing companies are buying expensive raw oil, gas and LPG from the market. But to protect our consumers, they are selling at low prices."

"Now this has an impact on our Oil Marketing Companies as well. And to reduce this impact, the Indian government has reduced ...