New Delhi, March 7: Top government sources have dismissed fears that the current global energy situation could pose a crisis for India. The country currently holds over 250 million barrels (approximately 4 billion liters) of crude oil and petroleum products, providing a buffer of about 7 to 8 weeks across the entire supply chain.
These reserves are not concentrated in a single location or form. They are distributed among above-ground storage tanks, underground strategic caverns, pipeline systems, terminal tanks, and storage ships in transit at sea, as well as three dedicated strategic petroleum storage facilities located in Mangalore, Padur, and Visakhapatnam.
According to official sources, India has ample reserves of crude oil, petrol, diesel, ATF, LPG, and LNG, which can effectively address short-term supply disruptions. Additionally, the country continues to receive energy supplies from various global suppliers.
Sources stated, “Claims that global oil supply has halted or that India has only a 25-day reserve are incorrect and do not reflect the actual supply and stock situation.” India is in a well-considered and robust strategic position, a result of a consistent energy policy over the past 12 years.
The buffer is real, supply routes are diverse, and the supply record remains consistent. This buffer is not a countdown but an addition to regular imports. Oil imports continue daily from multiple routes. Even if the Strait of Hormuz were completely disrupted, the impact on India would be partial due to its diverse sources. According to government sources, a significant portion of India’s crude oil does not pass through this route.
In the past decade, India’s strategic oil diplomacy has increased the number of supplier countries from 27 to 40, spanning six continents. The era when India’s energy security relied on a single maritime route is over. Now, supplies come from Russia, West Africa, the Americas, Central Asia, and Middle Eastern routes outside the Gulf region. Therefore, when one route faces disruption, only source adjustments are needed, preventing a supply crisis.
Sources noted that the Hormuz Strait is not the only route for India’s crude oil imports. Approximately 40 percent of imports pass through this strait, while about 60 percent comes from other routes. This is why there has been no energy shortage for Indian consumers during global crises or pandemics.
Several countries, including Australia and Canada, have also offered additional gas supplies. India continues to seek alternative sources to strengthen its energy security. Recently, India has established new energy supply arrangements with partners like the U.S. and UAE.
India’s refining infrastructure, with a capacity of 258 MMT per annum, ranks as the fourth largest in the world, exceeding the country’s total domestic consumption of 210 to 230 MMT per annum. Indian refineries are capable of processing various types of crude oil and are not dependent on a single source.
According to sources, this flexibility is a security asset developed through policy over the past decade. India is also the fifth-largest exporter of refined petroleum products globally.
When Europe imposed sanctions on Russian crude oil, Indian refineries played a crucial role in filling the fuel gap. India has never relied on any country’s approval to purchase Russian oil.
As of February 2026, India is still importing oil from Russia, which remains its largest crude oil supplier. Throughout the three years of the Russia-Ukraine war, India continued to buy Russian oil despite American and European objections. The increase in imports post-2022 was driven by discounted prices and refinery demand.
Thus, to claim that any short-term discount makes these purchases “possible” does not reflect reality, as this trade has continued uninterrupted. Sources stated that India is a net exporter of refined petroleum products, which strengthens rather than weakens its energy security.
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NA/Piyush
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