As the conflict in West Asia continues amid the breach in the Strait of Hormuz, many on social media have claimed that India only has “5-10 days of oil reserves” left. However, the central government on Saturday clarified that this was false and said the country has a total reserve capacity of around 74 days, with the current supply covering nearly 60 days.
It claimed that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG anywhere in the country. “The fuel supply situation remains stable, secure and constantly monitored,” the government said through the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the central government’s nodal agency.
It said: “India maintains a total reserve capacity of around 74 days with a current supply cover of around 60 days. This includes crude oil, petroleum products and strategic reserves stored in underground caverns, ensuring nearly two months of assured fuel availability across the country.”
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He urged citizens to remain calm and depend only on verified updates from official government sources regarding the availability of fuel and gas.
West Asian conflict
The conflict in West Asia began on February 28 with joint strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran, which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran’s retaliation subsequently widened the scope of the conflict and affected neighboring countries in the region. As global oil prices have soared, the Center has moved to reduce excise duty on petrol and diesel.
India is heavily dependent on imports, sourcing about 88 percent of its crude oil, 50 percent of its natural gas and 60 percent of its LPG from abroad. Before the conflict, more than half of India’s oil imports came from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, all of which depend on the Strait of Hormuz, according to PTI.
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Almost 85-95 percent of LPG and about 30 percent of gas supplies also passed through the strait.
New Delhi on Friday renewed its urgent call to ensure safe and uninterrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the importance of upholding international law amid the deteriorating security situation in West Asia. The government said it was closely monitoring regional tensions to protect the country’s energy interests.
“We are closely following all developments in West Asia. We continue to call for safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of priority,” Jaiswal said.
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At a weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was actively working with global partners to maintain stability.
Indian LPG vessel will reach Gujarat after crossing Hormuz
A consignment of 47,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) arrived at the Vadinar terminal at DPA Kandla in Jamnagar, Gujarat on Saturday.
The vessel, MT Jag Vasant, will transfer its cargo to another ship at berth through a ship-to-ship (STS) operation. Indian Navy warships have been kept on alert to assist merchant vessels, sources told ANI, adding that more such shipments are expected in the coming days.
Earlier, during a joint inter-ministerial briefing, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with various stakeholders.
“There have been no reports of any incident involving Indian-flagged ships or Indian sailors in the Gulf region in the last 24 hours. All are safe,” Sinha mentioned.
(With input from agencies)
