Rupee gains help oil PSUs cut revenue loss by over Rs 16K cr

Oil PSUs were together projected to lose a staggering Rs 178,491 crore in revenue this fiscal on sale of diesel and cooking fuel in early September. However, since the September 14 decision to allow FDI in retail, rupee has appreciated against the US dollar making import of oil marginally cheaper.

Rupee has appreciated from Rs 55.59 to a US dollar average of the first fortnight of September to Rs 52.54 in first half of this month.

This has helped bring down the projected revenue loss for 2012-13 fiscal to Rs 162,375 crore, industry sources said.

If this trend continues, the revenue loss projections will come down substantially, they said.

Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL) were selling diesel at a loss of 13.86 per litre despite the steep Rs 5.63 a litre hike of September 13. But this loss has now come down to Rs 9.

However, losses on kerosene, whose rates have not been changed since June last year, have widened to Rs 35.63 per litre from Rs 32.70 in last month. Similarly, loss on LPG has also widened to Rs 468.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder from Rs 347 previously.

Sources said the oil firms are losing about Rs 425 crore per day on sale of diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene below cost.

Of this, loss on diesel alone is Rs 210 crore a

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