Oil supply to India has been affected after Iran blocked more oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global energy transport. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, said that talks are ongoing to ensure the safe movement of oil tankers to the country. Officials confirmed that one LPG tanker and one crude oil tanker are expected to reach the Gujarat coast today.
Despite the disruptions, crude oil supply to India has reportedly increased by 93 percent. However, the shortage of commercial LPG has started affecting daily life. The hotel sector, especially small hotels, has been badly hit, with some forced to shut down due to lack of fuel. Meanwhile, another oil tanker reached Mumbai after crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The Liberian-flagged ship “Smirni,” operated by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, arrived carrying around 1.35 lakh metric tons of crude oil. The ship began its journey from Ras Tanura and the oil will be transferred to the HPCL refinery in Mahul.
Earlier, another tanker, Shenlong Suezmax, had reached Jawahar Island in Mumbai on March 11. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had slowed down sharply after tensions increased in the region following actions involving the United States and Israel against Iran. Since then, only a few ships have managed to reach India. Officials are continuing efforts to stabilise oil supply as the situation in the region remains tense.
