India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve Covers Only 9‑10 Days of Crude Imports, Report Shows

A report released by the Centre for Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) finds that India's strategic petroleum reserve is sufficient for just nine to ten days of net crude‑oil imports. This is far lower than the reserves held by other import‑dependent nations such as Japan and South Korea, which maintain stockpiles equal to more than 200 days of supply.

The analysis notes that over 85 % of India's crude imports come from six countries, including Russia and key West Asian suppliers, leaving the nation vulnerable to any supply disruptions. CEEW fellow Hemant Malya warned that “c‑cern about supply disruptions could affect kitchen gas costs, transport fuel prices, fertilizer subsidies, industrial competitiveness and inflation.” The report also highlights the lack of a dedicated strategic LNG storage facility and dependence on imported coal, adding further risk to the energy sector.

These constraints could raise the cost of liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, coal, and affect maritime routes, with broader implications for inflation and industrial competitiveness in India.