26/03/2025
🚨 Government Steps to Strengthen Strategic Petroleum Reserves 🚨
In a significant move to bolster India’s energy security, the Government has taken strategic steps to enhance the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) and diversify energy sources. Here’s the latest update:
Key Initiatives
✅ Existing SPR Facilities:
• Total capacity of 5.33 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) at 3 locations:
o Vishakhapatnam (1.33 MMT)
o Mangaluru (1.5 MMT)
o Padur (2.5 MMT)
✅ Expansion Plans:
• Two new commercial-cum-strategic reserves approved in July 2021:
o Chandikhol, Odisha (4 MMT)
o Padur, Karnataka (2.5 MMT)
• These will be developed on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, adding 6.5 MMT to India’s SPR capacity.
✅ Diversification of Crude Oil Sources:
• Indian Oil PSUs are procuring crude from diverse regions like the Middle East, Africa, North America, and South America.
• LNG imports have been diversified with long-term agreements from Australia, USA, and UAE to ensure supply stability and price security.
Promoting Clean Energy
To reduce reliance on fossil fuels, the Government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy:
🔹 Natural Gas: Increasing its share in the economy through demand substitution.
🔹 Renewable Fuels: Promoting ethanol, compressed biogas, biodiesel, Green Hydrogen, and EVs.
🔹 Refinery Improvements: Enhancing energy efficiency and conservation.
🔹 SATAT Initiative: Encouraging Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) as automotive fuel.
🔹 Biofuel Programs:
• Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP): OMCs sell petrol blended with ethanol.
• Biodiesel Blending: Diesel blended with biodiesel.
Why It Matters
These steps ensure energy security, mitigate supply risks, and align with India’s vision of a sustainable, gas-based economy. By diversifying energy sources and promoting clean fuels, India is paving the way for a greener, self-reliant future.
Souce - https://pib.gov.in/newsite/pmreleases.aspx?mincode=20
