NEW DELHI: 92,700 tonnes of LPG — equivalent to 1.25 days of India’s cooking gas demand — have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran for a fortnight, and are scheduled to reach Indian ports on Monday and Tuesday. Another 10 ships carrying crude and gas remain on standby in the Persian Gulf. Although it is still early days, the movement of the ships — Shivalik and Nandadevi — towards Mundra and Kandla signals easing of curbs in the war-torn corridor amid India’s efforts to intensify engagement with Iran that included PM Modi’s conversation with President Masoud Pezeshkian Thursday. Indian authorities are in contact with govts in West Asia and are coordinating with them to ensure safe passage of the ships, a top official said on Saturday. The LPG in transit on the two ships can fill around 68 lakh cylinders, against average daily demand of 55 lakh. “As a result of multiple contacts with all concerned, some ships destined for India have been able to cross the Strait of Hormuz… Several remain on standby in Gulf region,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
22 Indian-flagged ships near Hormuz waters We propose to continue to remain in touch and coordinate with all countries concerned to ensure safe and unimpeded transit for them in our effort to ensure our energy security, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He added that India has emphasised unimpeded transit of goods and energy and urged Iran to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure across the region. With supply remaining short of overall demand, govt acknowledged the “concern” but urged people to avoid panic booking of LPG cylinders. The number of bookings spiked to 88.8 lakh on Friday. India imports 60% of its LPG needs, with 85-90% of this being sourced from the Gulf countries,which use the Strait to ship oil and gas to users. Ports are according priority berthing to LPG vessels to ensure continuity of energy supply, said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the shipping ministry. During the last three days, six LPG carriers from other parts of the world were given priority berthing at major ports, which are also providing safe anchorage areas for loaded vessels that are bound for the Gulf but are currently unable to transit. “There were 24 Indian-flagged vessels to the west of Hormuz on Friday; out of these, two vessels crossed the Strait safely early and are heading towards India. Now there are 22 Indian-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf,” Sinha said, adding that Indian seafarers in the region are safe. “Of the 22 remaining Indian-flagged ships to the west of Hormuz, six are LPG vessels; one is a liquefied natural gas carrier; four are crude oil tankers; one is carrying chemical products; three are container ships; and two are bulk carriers. Among the remaining, one is a dredger, another is empty (holding no cargo) and three others are on dry docks, which means routine maintenance,” Sinha said. He said all major and minor ports have been directed to offer relief in anchorage, berth hire and storage charges to West Asia-bound cargo of shipping lines, agents and exporters. Lease extensions have also been granted in certain cases to accommodate cancelled or returned export cargo
