India's oil consumption rose nearly three per cent in September, while diesel sales fell for the second time this financial year.
Consumption of oil products in the month at 12.3 million tonnes was 2.9 per cent higher than 11.95 million tonnes a year ago, petroleum ministry data said.
Total sale of diesel, the most consumed fuel in the country, fell to 4.89 million tonnes during the month from 4.90 million tonnes in September 2013.
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In April, too, sales had dipped to 5.92 million tonnes as compared to with 6.15 million tonnes in the corresponding month last year.
In 2013-14, diesel demand dipped for the first time in more than a decade as monthly price raises and increased power generation clipped consumption.
Diesel, India's most consumed fuel, accounting for 43 per cent of the total petroleum product demand, has seen sales growth of six to eight per cent annually since 2003-04.