New Delhi, April 4: The Indian government has dismissed reports and social media claims suggesting that Iranian crude oil was diverted from the Vadinar port to China due to payment issues. Officials labeled these claims as “factually incorrect” and misleading.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarified that recent reports alleging that a shipment of oil from Iran was compromised due to payment problems are entirely false.
The government emphasized that India imports crude oil from over 40 countries, allowing oil companies the freedom to purchase from any supplier based on their business needs.
In a post on X, the ministry stated, “Reports and social media posts claiming that an Iranian crude oil cargo was redirected from India’s Vadinar port to China due to ‘payment issues’ are completely factually incorrect.”
The post further noted, “India imports crude oil from more than 40 countries, and companies have the complete discretion to source oil from various suppliers and geographical regions based on business considerations.”
This clarification follows reports claiming that a tanker named ‘Ping Shun,’ which was carrying Iranian crude oil and is under U.S. sanctions, altered its route from Vadinar in Gujarat to Dongying in China.
Ship tracking data indicated that the vessel was initially heading towards India but later changed its destination, leading to speculation that payment issues were the cause.
Some market analysts suggested that stringent payment terms might have contributed to this route change.
However, the government refuted these claims, stating that there are no payment-related barriers to importing oil from Iran, and such reports are misleading.
The ministry also assured that despite the ongoing supply crisis in the Middle East, Indian refineries have already secured their crude oil requirements for the coming months, including supplies from Iran.
The ministry added, “The changing of a ship’s route is being misrepresented without understanding the nature of oil trade. The bill of lading often lists potential destinations, and vessels can change their destination at sea for commercial and operational reasons.”
Regarding separate reports on LPG supply, the government stated those reports were also incorrect.
It confirmed that the LPG vessel named ‘Sea Bird,’ which brought approximately 44,000 metric tons of Iranian LPG, arrived in Mangalore on April 2 and is currently offloading its cargo.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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