India's Energy Security Strategy
Diversification and Reserves
India's energy security doctrine is built on four pillars: diversification of supply sources, building strategic reserves, investing in domestic production, and pursuing renewable energy transition. The recurrent disruptions from West Asia — whether the 2020 Saudi-Russia price war, the 2022 Russia sanctions, or the 2026 Iran crisis — test each pillar simultaneously.
- India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (Phase I): 5.33 million metric tonnes (MMT) stored in underground rock caverns at Visakhapatnam (1.33 MMT), Mangaluru (1.5 MMT), and Padur (2.5 MMT) — providing approximately 9.5 days of crude consumption cover.
- Phase II expansion (approved 2021): 6.5 MMT additional capacity at Chandikhol, Odisha (4 MMT) and Padur extension (2.5 MMT), on a Public Private Partnership basis.
- India's crude oil import basket: Iraq (~22%), Saudi Arabia (~17%), UAE (~11%), USA (~8%), Russia (~16%), and others — a diversification achieved after the 2018 Iran sanctions disruption.
- India is the world's third-largest oil importer and third-largest oil consumer.
- IEA membership: India joined the International Energy Agency as an Association Member in 2017 but is not a full member (IEA requires membership in the International Energy Programme, which India has not ratified).
● Tracked since March 06, 2026 · last seen April 06, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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