What Happened
- The Indian LPG tanker Shivalik safely arrived at Gujarat's Mundra Port after successfully navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing West Asia conflict that began on February 28, 2026.
- Each of the two tankers — Shivalik and Nanda Devi — carries approximately 46,000 metric tonnes of LPG; Shivalik berthed at Mundra on March 16, while Nanda Devi is scheduled to arrive at Kandla Port on March 17.
- The Special Secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed that the crude oil vessel Jag Laadki (carrying 81,000 metric tonnes of Murban crude oil from Abu Dhabi) is also safely en route and expected at Mundra Port on March 17.
- The government issued a Natural Gas Control Order on March 9, 2026, under the Essential Commodities Act, rationing domestic natural gas supply to prioritise households (piped natural gas/CNG: 100%), industrial consumers (80%), fertiliser plants (70%), and refineries/petrochemicals (65%).
- India's diplomatic engagement with Iran secured these vessels' safe passage — a signal of India's ability to maintain energy supply lines through diplomatic channels even during active conflict.
Static Topic Bridges
Strait of Hormuz: India's Critical Energy Chokepoint
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and the Oman peninsula, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and then the Arabian Sea. It is the world's most important maritime oil chokepoint — approximately 20–21 million barrels of oil per day (roughly 20% of global oil trade) pass through it.
- Approximately 90% of India's LPG imports and a large share of its crude oil imports historically passed through the Strait of Hormuz before the 2026 crisis.
- India imports about 60% of its LPG consumption and approximately 90% of its crude oil requirements.
- Following the 2026 crisis, India has diversified crude import routes — approximately 70% of crude now comes through routes outside the Strait (compared to ~45% earlier), partly through pipeline and African routes.
- A full closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be the single largest external shock to India's energy security — estimated to potentially increase India's crude oil import bill by tens of billions of dollars annually.
- Other global chokepoints relevant for India: Suez Canal (trade route to Europe), Bab-el-Mandeb (Red Sea, also disrupted in 2023-24), Malacca Strait (oil from Southeast Asia/Russia).
Connection to this news: Shivalik's safe arrival demonstrates that India has maintained the Hormuz passage open for its vessels through a combination of diplomatic engagement with Iran and careful navigation — preventing a supply disruption from becoming a domestic LPG shortage crisis.
India's LPG Supply Chain and Energy Security
LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas — primarily propane and butane) is India's dominant domestic cooking fuel, used by approximately 320 million households enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and other connections. India is one of the world's largest LPG importers.
- India's LPG import dependence: ~60% of consumption is imported; virtually all LPG imports come from the Middle East (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait).
- LPG is distinct from PNG (Piped Natural Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas): LPG is stored and transported in cylinders under pressure, while PNG is delivered through underground pipelines regulated by PNGRB (Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board).
- PNGRB (Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board): statutory body established under PNGRB Act, 2006 to regulate the natural gas pipeline and CGD (City Gas Distribution) network; it does not regulate LPG cylinders (which fall under MoPNG's pricing jurisdiction).
- LPG subsidy policy: Under Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL/PAHAL), subsidy is transferred directly to the consumer's bank account after they pay the market price. Ujjwala beneficiaries receive an additional targeted subsidy.
- Strategic storage: India has limited strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur — currently only for crude oil, not LPG.
Connection to this news: The Shivalik voyage directly addressed India's most acute energy vulnerability in the 2026 crisis: LPG for cooking. Securing two 46,000-MT shipments helps prevent a cylinder shortage, which would have had immediate livelihood impacts on hundreds of millions of households.
Mundra Port: India's Largest Commercial Port
Mundra Port in Kutch district, Gujarat, is India's largest commercial port by cargo handled. It is operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ), a subsidiary of the Adani Group. Mundra is the primary gateway for bulk commodity imports (including crude oil, LPG, coal, fertilisers) on India's west coast.
- Location: Northern shore of the Gulf of Kutch, near Mundra, Kutch district, Gujarat.
- Capacity: 231 MMT (million metric tonnes) annual capacity; currently handles ~155 MMT — approximately 11% of India's total maritime cargo.
- Container traffic: handles ~33% of India's container traffic; 4 container terminals with combined capacity of 7.5 million TEUs.
- Established as India's first private port; APSEZ manages multiple ports across India.
- Mundra is strategically positioned as a receiving point for LPG and crude oil tankers from the Persian Gulf — the typical sailing distance from the Strait of Hormuz to Mundra is approximately 1,200–1,400 nautical miles.
- Kandla Port (Union Territory of Daman and Diu, nearby): another major bulk commodity port in the region — the sister vessel Nanda Devi is heading there.
Connection to this news: Mundra Port's capacity and location make it the natural receiving terminal for large LPG and crude oil cargoes from the Middle East. The Shivalik's berthing at Mundra and Jag Laadki's expected arrival confirm that the western coast port infrastructure is functioning normally despite the crisis.
Key Facts & Data
- LPG tanker Shivalik: 46,000 MT LPG, arrived Mundra Port March 16, 2026.
- LPG tanker Nanda Devi: 46,000 MT LPG, due Kandla Port March 17, 2026.
- Crude vessel Jag Laadki: 81,000 MT Murban crude (from Abu Dhabi), due Mundra March 17, 2026.
- India's LPG import dependence: ~60% of consumption.
- India's crude oil import dependence: ~90% of consumption; ~5.5 million barrels/day.
- Natural Gas Control Order issued: March 9, 2026 (under Essential Commodities Act).
- Strait of Hormuz: ~20% of global daily oil trade passes through it.
- Mundra Port capacity: 231 MMT/year; ~11% of India's maritime cargo.
- PNGRB: statutory regulator for natural gas pipelines and city gas distribution (PNGRB Act, 2006).
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): free LPG connections to BPL households; ~320 million total LPG connections in India.