The Government of India on Wednesday said the country’s energy supplies remain secure despite the evolving situation in West Asia, adding that diversification of imports has reduced dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. Officials stated that about 70% of India’s crude oil imports are now routed through alternative routes outside the Strait.
The update was shared during an inter ministerial briefing held at the National Media Centre, where senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting outlined measures being taken to ensure energy security.
Officials said India’s crude oil supply remains stable due to diversified sourcing from around 40 countries.
The country consumes about 55 lakh barrels of crude oil daily and current supplies exceed the volumes that would normally have been routed through the Strait of Hormuz during this period. Two additional crude cargoes are also expected to arrive in the coming days. Refineries across the country are operating at very high capacity utilization levels, with some facilities running above 100 percent capacity.
The government also addressed the natural gas supply situation. India consumes about 189 million metric standard cubic metres of natural gas per day, of which 97.5 MMSCMD is produced domestically. Around 47.4 MMSCMD of supply has been affected due to force majeure conditions. To offset the disruption, procurement from alternative suppliers has been initiated and two LNG cargoes are currently on their way to India.
To manage available supplies, the government issued a Natural Gas Control Order under the Essential Commodities Act on March 9, 2026. Under the order, piped natural gas for households and compressed natural gas for vehicles will continue to receive full allocation. Industrial consumers connected to the gas grid will receive about 80 percent of their previous six month average supply, while fertilizer plants will receive about 70 percent.
Officials also noted that India imports about 60 percent of its LPG consumption, with most shipments normally passing through the Strait of Hormuz. To strengthen domestic availability, refineries and petrochemical complexes were directed to increase LPG production, resulting in a 25 percent rise in domestic output that is now being prioritized for household consumption.
Centre directs states to monitor LPG supply, prevent hoarding and black marketing
The Centre has directed states and Union Territories to closely monitor the supply of LPG and take strict action against hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities. The advisory was issued during an inter ministerial briefing on the evolving situation in West Asia.
The Union Home Secretary held a meeting with Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of all states and Union Territories to review preparedness. States were asked to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential supplies and nominate a state level spokesperson to provide regular public updates. Authorities were also advised to disseminate verified information through official channels and engage local administrations to communicate with the public.
The government said it is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and will continue to take necessary measures to ensure energy security and the uninterrupted supply of essential fuels across the country. (With PIB inputs)