Amid escalating tensions and disruptions across West Asia, energy security experts are strongly advising India to implement a multi-pronged strategy to safeguard its vital energy supplies. The repeated blockages and threats in critical maritime passages such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and Bab el-Mandeb have underscored India's significant vulnerability due to its heavy reliance on these corridors.
India's overall primary energy import dependence stood at approximately 42% in 2024-25, with crude oil imports accounting for a staggering 89% and natural gas nearly 49%. In 2025, India imported around 1.8 billion barrels of crude oil, with nearly half — 48% — originating from the Gulf region, according to Rajeev Agarwal, a senior research consultant at the Chintan Research Foundation.
A Multi-Pronged Strategy for Energy Security
Agarwal emphasized that India must adopt a comprehensive approach to fortify its energy security. This includes developing multiple import routes, diversifying its crude oil and gas suppliers beyond traditional sources, expanding its strategic petroleum reserves, and upgrading port infrastructure to handle varied logistical demands.
Simply finding alternative suppliers may not be sufficient, experts caution. Cauvery Ganapathy, a climate and energy fellow at the Observer Research Foundation Middle East, suggested that India could temporarily reroute Gulf-origin crude through the Mediterranean or utilize existing cargoes at sea through spot trading and swaps. However, she highlighted the limitations of such an approach, noting potential issues with available volumes and increased competition. Replacing Gulf supplies could also lead to higher costs due to longer voyages and increased risk premiums.
Strengthening Strategic Reserves and Diversifying LNG
Mannat Jaspal, climate and energy director at ORF Middle East, advocated for building stronger strategic buffers through both Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) and commercial inventories. She pointed to a recent agreement between India and the UAE, which could allow the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to significantly increase its crude storage in India's strategic reserves, potentially by six times the current volume.
Jaspal also recommended greater diversification of India's Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supplies, exploring sources from the US, Australia, and Africa. Concurrently, increasing domestic gas production and accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources are crucial long-term strategies.
Exploring Alternative Infrastructure and Overcoming Challenges
The development of alternative infrastructure in the UAE and Oman could offer additional options for India. Fujairah, located outside the Strait of Hormuz, is an established hub for oil storage and bunkering. Oman's Duqm and Salalah ports could also support alternative maritime routes. However, experts like Ganapathy noted that even with these alternatives, Gulf-origin oil and gas would still likely face exposure to Hormuz-related risks before reaching such facilities.
A significant challenge lies in the transportation of specific fuels, particularly LPG, for which India remains heavily dependent on Gulf supplies and which cannot be easily shifted through pipelines. Ganapathy stressed that any alternative maritime routes would also necessitate stronger security arrangements.
Ultimately, India's ability to engage bilaterally with each actor in the West Asian region is paramount to successfully implementing and sustaining any of these diversification channels.