India Prioritizes Domestic Fuel Needs Before Exporting
India will export fuel only after meeting local demand as conflict disrupts the Strait of Hormuz. Officials are prioritizing domestic cooking gas supplies.
India is currently assessing fuel-supply requests from its neighbors, stating that exports will only be approved if surplus volumes are available. This decision comes as the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran disrupts shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, causing a spike in global energy prices. As the world’s fourth-largest refiner, the country provides essential fuels to Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Unlike China, which has moved to ban exports of refined fuel, the Indian government is prioritizing its own domestic requirements before committing to external shipments.
Sujata Sharma, a joint secretary in the oil ministry, emphasized that domestic needs remain the priority.
