India secures 60-day oil supply as Gulf disruptions deepen

India has secured sufficient crude oil supplies for the next 60 days and is diversifying imports to offset disruptions from the Persian Gulf, as conflict involving Iran continues to impact regional energy flows, according to foreign media.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the measures ensure stable fuel availability despite a sharp decline in deliveries from the Middle East, which previously accounted for more than 40% of India’s oil imports.

The disruption follows military escalation involving the United States and Israel, along with retaliatory actions by Iran that have affected shipping routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz.

To compensate, India has increased purchases from a broader range of suppliers, including the United States, Russia and other producers, while benefiting from greater crude availability on global markets, particularly from the Western Hemisphere. A temporary US exemption has also allowed Indian refiners to expand imports of Russian oil, securing millions of barrels to bridge the supply gap.

“Despite the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, today India is receiving more crude oil from over 41 suppliers worldwide than previously came through the strait,” the ministry said.

As the world’s third-largest oil consumer and importer — and the fourth-largest refiner — India said it maintains structural security in domestic fuel supplies. Current oil and fuel reserves are sufficient to cover 60 days of consumption, with total storage capacity equivalent to 74 days.

“Nearly two months of stable supply are ensured for every Indian citizen, regardless of the global situation. Crude oil procurement for the next two months has also been secured,” the ministry added.

In parallel, the government has instructed refiners to maximise output of liquefied petroleum gas, widely used as cooking fuel, after disruptions to Middle Eastern supplies, which previously accounted for 90% of imports.

Domestic LPG production has been increased by 40% to 50,000 metric tons per day, compared with the demand of 80,000 tons. To cover the shortfall, Indian companies have secured 800,000 tons of LPG from suppliers in the United States, Russia, Australia and other countries.

These shipments, delivered through 22 LPG import terminals across India, provide approximately one month of guaranteed supply, while additional procurement efforts are ongoing.

By Tamilla Hasanova