India's uninterrupted fuel supplies during Hormuz crisis reflect enhanced energy resilience: Industry
New Delhi, June 29
India's ability to maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies and limit the impact on consumers during the prolonged Strait of Hormuz disruption demonstrated the country's significantly improved energy resilience, driven by diversified sourcing, infrastructure investments and coordinated government action, experts said on Monday.
Speaking to IANS, former Engineers India Limited (EIL) Chairman and Managing Director Vartika Shukla said the Hormuz disruption highlighted India's enhanced energy resilience, as uninterrupted supplies and minimal retail price impact were ensured through proactive government measures, diversified sourcing and sustained investments in energy security infrastructure.
"The Hormuz disruption highlighted India's enhanced energy resilience, as uninterrupted supplies and minimal retail price impact were ensured through proactive government measures, diversified sourcing, and sustained investments in energy security infrastructure," she said.
Former Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) Chairman and Managing Director M.K. Surana said that when the conflict in West Asia began and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted, many observers expected India to face severe fuel shortages because of its heavy dependence on imported crude oil.
"When the conflict started and the Strait of Hormuz was closed, most commentators expected that India, which is 85 per cent import-dependent when it comes to crude oil, would completely collapse because petrol would not be available," he said.
"LPG would also become unavailable. There would be severe shortages and widespread shutdowns. Surprisingly, while many countries around the world had to introduce emergency measures such as odd-even fuel rationing, compulsory work from home, and shutting petrol pumps at 5 p.m., Indian citizens did not have to face any such emergency measures," Surana told IANS.
He attributed this resilience to coordinated efforts involving the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, public sector oil marketing companies and various government agencies.
Surana noted that despite the disruption, the country succeeded in maintaining uninterrupted domestic cooking gas supplies through a combination of supply-side and demand-side measures aimed at prioritising household consumption.
According to Surana, the government's strategy of diversifying crude oil imports and sourcing supplies from more than 40 countries played a crucial role in reducing the impact of the Hormuz disruption and enhancing India's long-term energy security.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I remember last year during the peak of the crisis, there was so much panic on social media about petrol shortages. But honestly, in my daily life, I barely noticed any disruption. The LPG cylinder also arrived on time for my family. This is the kind of infrastructure resilience we need—well done to everyone involved! 👏
Good to see industry veterans like Vartika Shukla and M.K. Surana acknowledging the government's efforts. But let's not forget that this resilience came at a cost—our petroleum import bill still skyrocketed due to global price volatility. Yes, supplies were maintained, but we need to accelerate our renewable energy push to reduce this dependence on volatile regions. Just my two paise.
This is a big achievement for a country that imports 85% of its crude oil. 🛢️ The diversification to over 40 countries is a smart move—if one region becomes unstable, we have alternatives. I hope this success story gets more coverage internationally because it shows India's rising capability in crisis management. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
While I'm happy about the uninterrupted supplies, I can't help but wonder—why did it take a crisis for people to appreciate our energy infrastructure? We've been running on borrowed time with this import dependency. The real test will be when we face a simultaneous disruption from multiple regions. Let's use this as a wake-up call to invest in strategic petroleum reserves and domestic exploration. Better safe than sorry! 🤔
As someone working in the logistics sector, I can confirm
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