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India currently possesses sufficient reserves of crude oil and petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), even as tensions linked to the Iran conflict disrupt global supply routes.
A senior government official stated, “Today, we have more energy sources than what is stuck in the Straits of Hormuz. We are in a comfortable position in crude oil, oil products and LPG. In terms of our current stock, we are in a comfortable position. We are going to ramp up our supplies from other parts of the geographies and make up for our supply crunch from the Straits of Hormuz.”
The official explained that India is in a stable position regarding crude oil, petroleum products and LPG stocks and will increase imports from alternative geographical sources to address any potential supply gap created by disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz.
“India has been buying crude oil from Russia since 2022. In 2022, we were importing 0.2 per cent of total imports from Russia. In February, we imported 20 per cent of our total crude oil imports from Russia. India imported 1.04 million barrels per day from Russia,” The official added.
Refinery Operations and LPG Availability
The official also rejected claims suggesting that the MRPL refinery had halted operations, clarifying that the facility remains operational and well stocked.
Authorities have instructed all refineries producing LPG to increase their output to maintain strong domestic supply levels. Current reserves of LPG are sufficient to meet national consumption requirements.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has directed oil refiners to prioritise domestic LPG availability. Refiners have been asked to channel essential gases such as propane and butane primarily towards LPG production for household use.
These instructions aim to ensure an uninterrupted supply of cooking fuel while the ongoing Middle East crisis raises concerns about global energy flows.
The escalating conflict in the region has halted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted supplies from Qatar, one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas.
Despite these developments, Indian authorities remain confident that diversified import sources and adequate reserves will allow the country to maintain stable energy supplies.
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