New Delhi, April 4: The central government has rejected reports and social media claims stating that crude oil cargo from Iran was diverted to China from Vadinar, India, due to payment issues. The government labeled these reports as factually incorrect and misleading.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarified that recent news suggesting India lost a shipment of oil from Iran due to payment problems is untrue. The government emphasized that India imports crude oil from over 40 countries and that oil companies have complete freedom to choose suppliers based on business needs.
In a post on the social media platform X, the ministry stated, “Reports claiming that crude oil cargo from Iran was diverted to China from Vadinar due to payment issues are factually incorrect. India imports crude oil from over 40 countries, and companies have the full freedom to source oil from various suppliers and geographical regions based on business considerations.”
This clarification follows claims that a tanker named Ping Shun, which was carrying Iranian crude oil and is subject to U.S. sanctions, changed its route from Vadinar, Gujarat, to Dongying, China.
Ship tracking data indicated that the vessel was initially headed towards India but later altered its destination, leading to speculation that payment issues prompted the route change.
Market analysts suggested that strict payment terms from sellers could have caused the sudden change in route. However, the government dismissed this claim, stating that there are no payment-related obstacles in importing crude oil from Iran and that such rumors are misleading.
The ministry also assured that despite ongoing supply disruptions in the Middle East, Indian refiners have already secured their crude oil requirements for the coming months, including supplies from Iran. The ministry remarked, “Claims regarding the ship’s route change disregard the operational realities of oil trading. The bill of lading often mentions indicative discharge port destinations, and the destination can change during maritime transport based on trade optimization and operational flexibility.”
Responding to separate claims regarding LPG supply, the government stated these reports are incorrect. It confirmed that an LPG vessel carrying approximately 44,000 metric tons of Iranian LPG, named Sea Bird, arrived in Mangalore on April 2 and is currently unloading its cargo.
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