Centre Says Energy Imports Flowing From Multiple Sources: Where Does India Get Its Oil, Gas From?

Last Updated:March 10, 2026, 9:14 PM IST

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the central government is taking measures to ensure 100% supply of CNG and piped natural gas to domestic consumers

A delivery staff unloads LPG cylinders from a truck at a distribution point in Mumbai on March 10, 2026. (Image: AFP)

Petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said India’s energy imports are continuing to flow from “different sources and routes”, amid the ongoing West Asia conflict that has triggered a massive energy crisis the world over.

With oil and gas prices soaring and the Strait of Hormuz – a vital artery that transports 20 percent of the world’s petroleum and natural gas – effectively under the control of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, one-third of India’s natural gas imports have been disrupted.

According to Puri, however, the Centre is taking measures to ensure 100 percent supply of CNG (compressed natural gas) and piped natural gas (PNG) to domestic consumers.

“We are committed to ensure uninterrupted supply of affordable energy to our domestic consumers,” Puri said during an interaction with reporters.

He said there is “no reason to panic” as the central government is monitoring the situation on a minute-to-minute basis.

India is the world’s fourth-largest buyer of LNG (liquefied natural gas) and the second-largest importer of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). As of early 2026, it imports roughly 88 percent of its crude oil and 50 percent of its natural gas.

This landscape has dramatically shifted due to new trade deals with the United States and the escalating war in West Asia. But, from where and how does India fulfil its energy requirements, and what are these multiple sources mentioned by the Union minister?

Here’s all you need to know:

INDIA AND THE ‘HORMUZ TRAP’

To understand how India is surviving what is being called the “Hormuz trap”, it would be best to redraw the energy import map.

Traditionally, the Strait of Hormuz carried roughly 50 percent of India’s crude oil and more than 60 percent of its LNG and LPG. With this route now effectively disrupted, it has been forced to pivot toward “non-Strait” sources to keep from running dry.

So, How Is India Doing This?

• Russia: Once again the “swing supplier”, Russia has returned as India’s top crude source providing over 1.04 million barrels per day (bpd), or roughly 20 percent of total imports. To stabilise global prices, the US Treasury even issued a 30-day waiver (valid until April 5) to allow Indian refiners to take delivery of Russian oil already at sea.
• Iraq and Saudi Arabia: These remain India’s bedrock partners, consistently providing between 17 and 20 percent of crude imports each.
• United States: A rapidly growing source, the US now accounts for roughly 8 percent of India’s oil basket. India has also leaned heavily on US LNG exports to fill the gap left by disruptions in the Gulf.
• West Africa and Latin America: Countries such as Nigeria, Angola, and Brazil have become strategically vital because their shipping routes entirely bypass West Asia.
• Qatar: Historically the backbone of India’s gas economy (supplying nearly 50 percent of LNG), Qatar declared force majeure on March 4 after its plants were targeted in the conflict, leading to a massive supply gap.

What Other Measures Does India Apply?

To manage energy shocks, India relies on a multi-layered “safety net” that provides a total emergency buffer of approximately 74 days. This includes roughly 9.5 days of crude stored in underground strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur, complemented by 65 days of commercial stock held by oil public sector undertakings (PSU).

But the shift to avoid the Persian Gulf comes at a steep price. Tankers from the US, Europe, and West Africa are now frequently rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope. This journey adds 10 to 15 days to the travel time – turning a four-day trip from the Gulf into a 25-day trip. It significantly increases freight costs and insurance premiums.

Economically, the stakes are high: every $10 per barrel increase in global crude prices typically widens India’s current account deficit by roughly $9 billion. “Spot” gas prices have doubled to $25 per unit as India desperately seeks to fill the 40 percent supply gap left by disrupted contracts in West Asia.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEFORE THE WEST ASIA CRISIS?

India has a highly diversified “energy basket” to mitigate geopolitical risks. While Russia was the dominant supplier in 2024, things changed in 2026.

• Russia for crude oil: ~19-20% (down from 33%+ in 2025 due to sanctions and US trade pressure)
• Iraq for crude oil: ~17-20% (consistently a top-tier, reliable supplier)
• Saudi Arabia for crude oil: ~17.5% (rebounding as India strengthens ties with OPEC+)
• UAE for crude and LPG: ~10% (major partner for both fuel and strategic storage)
• US for crude, LNG, and LPG: ~7% (rapidly growing; India signed its first long-term LPG contract with the US in late 2025)
• Qatar for LNG: ~45-50% of total LNG imports (backbone of India’s gas economy).

WHAT ARE THE KEY IMPORT ROUTES & CHOKEPOINTS?

The routes India uses for its energy imports carry massive risk:

• Strait of Hormuz: This is the most critical chokepoint. Roughly 50% of India’s crude oil and over 60% of its LNG/LPG pass through this 33 km wide strip between Iran and Oman.
• Red Sea & Suez Canal: Used for imports from Europe and North Africa, and for India’s own refined petroleum exports to the West. Security here (for example Bab-el-Mandeb) remains a concern for freight and insurance costs.
• Northern Sea Route/Vladivostok Corridor: A developing strategic route from Russia’s Far East to India’s East Coast (Chennai), designed to bypass traditional western-controlled waters.
• Cape of Good Hope: When West Asia or Red Sea becomes too volatile, ships are rerouted around the southern tip of Africa. This adds 10 to 15 days to travel time and significantly increases fuel and insurance costs.

(With agency inputs)

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