India's ONGC Approves 1.75 MT Strategic Oil Reserve Expansion in Mangalore

State‑run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) received in‑principle approval from its board to develop a 1.75 million‑tonne strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) at Mangalore. The project is a Phase‑I extension of the existing Mangalore SPR and will include associated infrastructure. ONGC will discuss with the central government the possibility of broadening commercial utilisation of the reserve, subject to regulatory clearance.

The expansion adds to India's emergency crude oil stockpiles, which currently total about 5.33 million tonnes across facilities in Visakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. The move comes as the country seeks to strengthen energy security amid global market volatility and geopolitical uncertainties, such as recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Further planned expansions include a 4 MT reserve at Chandikhol (Odisha) and a 2.5 MT facility at Padur (Karnataka).