West Asia Crisis: India Reviews Energy Security as Global Supply Chains Face Disruption
PM chairs emergency meeting with Chief Ministers amid rising crude oil prices and trade route disruptions in the Persian Gulf.
As the conflict in West Asia enters its fourth week, Prime Minister Modi chaired an emergency meeting with Chief Ministers and senior cabinet colleagues to assess India's energy security preparedness. The government categorically denied rumours of a nationwide lockdown.
"India has diversified its energy imports significantly over the past decade," said Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. "We have strategic petroleum reserves sufficient for 14 days, and we are in active discussions with alternate suppliers."
The disruption of key shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz has pushed Brent crude above $95 per barrel, a 30% increase since the conflict began. Indian refiners, who source nearly 40% of crude from the Gulf region, have started accelerating imports from Russia and the Americas.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that over 8 lakh Indian nationals in the Gulf region are safe, with evacuation plans in place for worst-case scenarios. Operation Kalam, a contingency evacuation framework, has been activated on standby mode.
Manoj Kumar
Editor
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