India Expands Energy Sourcing to 15 LNG and 41 Crude Oil Supplier Nations
India has substantially broadened its international energy procurement network by sourcing liquefied natural gas from 15 nations and crude oil from 41 countries to shield domestic supplies from geopolitical instability and shipping disruptions.
What Happened
In a written response presented to the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi stated that the central government has broadened its energy import network. India’s supplier base for liquefied natural gas (LNG) has grown from six countries to 15 countries, while crude oil procurement has expanded from 27 nations to 41 nations.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that this diversification aims to reduce India’s exposure to disruptions tied to any single country, geographical region, or maritime transit corridor. The ministry noted that it continuously evaluates global market conditions alongside public sector oil and gas enterprises and relevant stakeholders to maintain an uninterrupted flow of petroleum products, crude, and LNG.
Key Highlights
- LNG Procurement: Expanded from six to 15 supplying nations.
- Crude Oil Procurement: Increased from 27 to 41 supplier countries.
- Existing Strategic Reserves: Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd operates three facilities across Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka with a combined storage capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes.
- Approved Expansions: A total of 6.5 million tonnes of additional commercial-cum-strategic capacity was approved in July 2021 for Chandikhol in Odisha and Padur in Karnataka, though these sites are not yet operational and carry no updated completion timeline.
- Corporate Reserve Projects: ONGC is developing a 1.75-million-tonne facility in Karnataka, with half dedicated to strategic reserves and half allocated for commercial operations.
Why This Matters
Spreading procurement across a larger number of countries and shipping routes allows India to manage potential transit bottlenecks and market volatility. Geopolitical tensions and maritime route risks—particularly concerning shipments traversing the Middle East—prompted the diversification to safeguard domestic energy availability against supply disruptions.
What to Watch Next
The government and state-run energy companies will continue assessing international supply conditions to adjust procurement strategies. Attention also remains on the development and future commissioning timelines for the approved 6.5-million-tonne strategic storage facilities in Odisha and Karnataka, as well as ONGC’s upcoming reserve project.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries now supply crude oil and LNG to India?
According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India now procures crude oil from 41 countries (up from 27) and liquefied natural gas from 15 countries (up from six).
What is India’s current strategic crude storage capacity?
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd currently operates three operational storage sites in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka with a total capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes.
Where are the newly approved strategic storage facilities located?
Additional commercial-cum-strategic reserves totalling 6.5 million metric tonnes have been approved for Chandikhol in Odisha and Padur in Karnataka, alongside a 1.75-million-tonne project being developed by ONGC in Karnataka.
Source: Based on a written reply by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the Rajya Sabha, reported by ANI and The Times of India.