New Delhi, March 06: India remains in a comfortable position in terms of crude oil and fuel availability, with sufficient stocks of petroleum products including petrol, diesel and LPG despite supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, according to a senior government official.
The official said the country has diversified energy sourcing and is ramping up imports from regions outside the Gulf to offset disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route affected by the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
India has also significantly increased crude imports from Russia since 2022. While Russian crude accounted for just 0.2% of India’s imports in 2022, the share rose to around 20% in February, with imports reaching 1.04 million barrels per day, the official said.
The government also dismissed reports of a shutdown at the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), stating that the refinery is fully operational and adequately stocked.
To safeguard domestic supply, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has directed refiners to maximise liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production and prioritise domestic consumption. Refiners have been asked to ensure that key gases such as propane and butane are primarily used for LPG production to avoid shortages of the cooking fuel.
