Amid Gulf crisis, Russia offers India a helping hand with energy supplies

Russia has conveyed its readiness to support India with energy supplies in case the escalating Gulf crisis disrupts global oil flows, according to a Russian source cited by Reuters.

The offer comes at a time when tensions in West Asia have rattled energy markets and raised concerns over the security of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — a key chokepoint that handles a large share of global oil and gas trade.

The Indian government on Tuesday said the country currently has enough crude and fuel stocks to weather short-term shocks.

Government sources said that India holds sufficient crude and petroleum product inventories to meet domestic demand for petrol, diesel and other fuels for six to



eight weeks, providing a buffer against any immediate disruption.

About half of India’s crude and LPG imports transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which has seen shipping disruptions following US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and Tehran’s subsequent warnings to vessels. Insurance cover withdrawals have also affected tanker movements, as per a report by news agency PTI.

India currently has stocks of crude oil and refined petroleum products that can last for 50 days in total, i.e., with 25 days’ worth of crude oil and another 25 days of petroleum products, government sources said. At the same time, officials are looking for alternative countries to import crude oil, LPG and LNG, as tensions rise in the Middle East.