Indian Government’s Oil Import Strategy: A Deliberate Response to Global Crisis
The Indian government’s decision to import more oil from Russia is part of a broader strategy to diversify sources of oil, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. This response comes after an editorial by The Hindu reported that Russia’s share in India‘s oil imports had risen to above 40% in May 2026.
The Ministry emphasized that the timeline omitted by The Hindu is crucial: Hormuz effectively closed at the end of February 2026, resulting in nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas passing through the Strait being shut. This exposure was particularly sharp for India, as roughly 45-50% of crude oil imports transited this single waterway.
As a result, India had to quickly adapt its oil sourcing strategy. Within weeks, non-Hormuz crude sourcing was raised from 55% to 70% of India‘s imports. By June, Russian supplies had risen further to around 2.6 million barrels per day, which accounted for more than half of that month’s overall imports.
Diplomatic Outreach and Diversified Sourcing
The Ministry highlighted the importance of diplomatic outreach in securing alternate crude and LPG volumes from countries like Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, India successfully negotiated with Iran to secure LPG vessels to sail through the Strait of Hormuz safely without paying any tolls or transit levies.
India‘s crude sourcing has also widened significantly over the past decade. From 27 countries in 2016, India now sources oil from 41+ countries, including Iran, Chad, Algeria, Togo, and Egypt. This diversification ensures that no single disruption jeopardizes national energy security.
Pre-emptive Measures Against Sanctions
The government emphasized its pre-emptive measures against sanctions by utilizing “ship-to-ship transfer operations in international waters” via the Red Sea route through Yanbu and Fujairah. This strategy allows India to maintain a steady supply of oil, even if a single choke point or sanctions regime were to halt cargo.
Regarding India‘s sourcing of oil from Venezuela, the government clarified that the relationship was not a sudden development but rather an existing channel activated at scale when the crisis demanded it. The Ministry highlighted that Venezuela’s acting President visited India during India Energy Week, months ahead of the Hormuz closure, for substantive talks on energy cooperation.
The Indian government’s response underscores its deliberate strategy to diversify oil sources and pre-empt potential disruptions to national energy security. As global energy markets continue to evolve, India‘s proactive approach will remain crucial in ensuring a stable supply of oil.
Original Article: Petroleum Ministry responds to The Hindu editorial: ‘Higher Russian oil imports part of deliberate strategy’ — Thehindu