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India's Energy Security and the Hormuz Dependency

India's energy security calculus has always included the Hormuz risk. As the world's third-largest oil importer, India's economic stability is directly tied to the uninterrupted flow of crude oil through this waterway.

Key details
  • Approximately 50% of India's crude oil imports and a significant share of its LNG imports transit the Strait of Hormuz.
  • India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) at Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, and Padur provides approximately 17-18 days of crude oil coverage — far below the IEA standard of 90 days.
  • India's refinery throughput depends on a steady stream of crude imports; any supply disruption cascades quickly into domestic fuel prices.
  • India has been diversifying its crude basket: US crude (WTI), Russian crude (Urals, ESPO), African crude (Nigerian, Angolan), and Australian LNG have all grown as alternatives to Middle East supply.
  • The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas maintains emergency protocols and has the authority to dip into SPR and direct refiners to alternate sources in crisis situations.
In the news

Tracked since March 06, 2026 · last seen April 10, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes

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