India moved 12 LPG vessels through Strait of Hormuz without tolls: Hardeep Puri
New Delhi, June 29
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said India moved more than 12 LPG vessels through the Strait of Hormuz without paying any tolls and rapidly reconfigured refineries to increase cooking gas production, measures that helped the country navigate what he described as the largest energy disruption in modern history.
Referring to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which he said lasted for nearly four months, Puri said the government took a series of emergency measures to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies and protect consumers from the impact of the disruption.
"Even as the world faced one of the worst energy crises and disrupted supply chains, India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi effectively shielded the energy consumers from any negative impact," he said.
"Over 12 Indian LPG vessels were quietly moved out of Hormuz without paying any tolls," Puri wrote in a post on social media platform X.
The minister said India shielded domestic consumers from supply shortages by diversifying crude oil import sources, expanding energy infrastructure and securing alternative LPG supplies from multiple countries. He added that the government's response ensured that cooking gas and fuel supplies remained stable despite the global energy turmoil.
Among the measures undertaken during the crisis was a Rs 10-per-litre reduction in central excise duty on fuel in March.
""Cooking gas going to homes was protected in full and digital authentication code was made mandatory to prevent diversion of this precious supply by black marketers," he mentioned.
Puri said several refineries that had never produced cooking gas were reconfigured within days to boost output. As a result, LPG production increased from 35 thousand metric tonnes (TMT) per day to 54 TMT per day.
"Refineries that had never made cooking gas were reconfigured within a few days and production was raised from 35 TMT a day to 54 TMT a day," Puri added.
He further said India established fresh LPG supply arrangements with countries such as Algeria, Japan and Canada, while additional cargoes were secured from the United States to meet domestic demand.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting how India managed this quietly. I suppose not making a big spectacle about moving vessels through disputed waters was a smart diplomatic move. Plus, securing alternative supplies from countries like Algeria and Canada shows good diversification.
The ₹10 per litre excise duty cut was a relief but honestly, fuel prices are still high. Yes, the government managed the crisis well but let's not forget that domestic consumers are still paying through the nose at petrol pumps. Need more sustainable solutions.
Military diplomacy and strategic energy planning - this is why we need strong leadership. Imagine if we hadn't prepared for such disruptions! The fact that cooking gas reached every home despite global turmoil is a big achievement. 👏
54 TMT per day from 35 TMT? That's a remarkable increase in LPG production. But I wonder about the long-term sustainability of such reconfigurations. Are these refineries still producing at that level or did they revert back?
Hats off to the team that managed this! Moving 12 LPG vessels without tolls through Strait of Hormuz is no small feat. It shows India's growing influence and smart negotiation skills. The digitisation to prevent black marketing is also a big plus.
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