India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Architecture and Gaps
India's SPR programme was established under ISPRL (Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited), a subsidiary of the Petroleum Ministry. The SPR is modelled on similar programmes in the US (Strategic Petroleum Reserve), China, Japan, and IEA member countries, though India's capacity remains significantly smaller relative to its consumption.
- SPR Phase 1 (completed): Visakhapatnam (1.33 MMT), Mangaluru (1.5 MMT), Padur (2.5 MMT) — total 5.33 MMT (~36.92 million barrels)
- SPR Phase 2 (planned): Chandikhol (Odisha) and a second Padur facility — would add ~6.5 MMT
- India's SPR alone = ~9.5 days of consumption; commercial stocks bring total to ~40–45 days
- IEA standard for members: 90 days of net imports — India's ~40–45 days is well below this benchmark
- US SPR capacity: ~700 million barrels (though currently partially depleted); China maintains undisclosed strategic stocks estimated at 500+ million barrels
- India's SPR expansion is complicated by high capital costs, land acquisition, and funding arrangements
- India has explored commercial storage deals: inviting foreign national oil companies to store crude in Indian SPR in return for emergency access
● Tracked since March 03, 2026 · last seen August 11, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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