India’s strategic crude oil reserves can meet only about 9.5 days of the country’s crude oil requirement in case of a disruption in imports, according to an RTI response accessed by India Today from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The response highlights the limited buffer available to India at a time when global energy markets are , a region that accounts for a significant share of India’s crude oil imports.
The ongoing conflict has already led to volatility in crude oil prices, with concerns rising over potential disruptions to supply routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit chokepoint.
Any and push prices higher, increasing risks for import-dependent economies like India.
The RTI reply states that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) programme was approved on January 7, 2004, and Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) was set up on June 16, 2004 to implement it.
At present, India has a total SPR storage capacity of 5.33 million metric tonnes (MMT) across three locations: Visakhapatnam (1.33 MMT), Mangaluru (1.5 MMT), and Padur (2.5 MMT).
However, government data presented in the Rajya Sabha on March 23, 2026 shows that the reserves are not fully utilised. India currently holds around 3.372 MMT of crude oil, which is roughly 64% of the total storage capacity.
The government has noted that the actual reserve is a dynamic figure, depending on stock levels as well as consumption patterns.
The limited buffer assumes greater significance in the current global context. India imports over 85% of its crude oil needs, making it highly vulnerable to external supply shocks and price fluctuations triggered by geopolitical developments.
The RTI response also confirms that the government approved an expansion of the SPR network in July 2021. Two additional facilities are planned: Chandikhol in Odisha with a capacity of 4 MMT and an additional 2.5 MMT capacity at Padur in Karnataka, taking the total planned expansion to 6.5 MMT.
These facilities are proposed under a public-private partnership model but are yet to become operational.
With expansion projects still pending and existing reserves not fully filled, the data raises questions about the adequacy of India’s strategic oil buffer at a time when global supply risks remain elevated.
While India has taken steps over the past two decades to build strategic reserves, the current capacity and stock levels suggest that the country’s preparedness for a prolonged disruption in global oil supplies remains limited.