New Delhi: India currently has a total storage capacity for crude oil and petroleum products sufficient for 74 days, which can help the country manage supply disruptions in case of adverse situations such as geopolitical conflicts, the Parliament was informed on Monday.
Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that the government has established Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) facilities with a total capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes (MMT), providing a buffer for short-term supply shocks equivalent to about 9.5 days of crude oil requirement. In addition, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) across the country have storage facilities covering 64.5 days of crude oil and petroleum products, bringing the total national storage capacity to 74 days.
To further strengthen reserves, the government approved in July 2021 the establishment of two additional SPR facilities under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model — one at Chandikhol, Odisha (4 MMT) and another at Padur, Karnataka (2.5 MMT). These facilities are expected to increase reserves equivalent to 12 days of crude oil imports.
The government has also implemented multiple measures to ensure uninterrupted energy supply during geopolitical uncertainties. These include diversifying crude oil import sources, bypassing conflict zones, and strengthening diplomatic engagements with major oil-producing countries and international organisations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and International Energy Forum (IEF).
Meanwhile, India’s proven hydrocarbon reserves have been established through sustained exploration across its sedimentary basins. As of April 1, 2025, the country’s Estimated Ultimate Recovery (EUR) stands at 1,948.1 MMT for crude oil and 1,844.3 billion cubic meters (BCM) for natural gas, according to the Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS). The proven Balance Recoverable Reserves are 423.1 MMT for crude oil and 595.4 BCM for natural gas.
Over the last five years, India’s import dependence has ranged from 85–88 per cent for crude oil and 48–50 per cent for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the minister added.
With IANS inputs