New Delhi [India], April 5 (ANI): Former Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Sanjay Sudhir, lauded “proactive government measures” as India navigates a “disproportionate” LPG hit while the West Asia conflict enters its second month.
Speaking with ANI, he described the geopolitical climate as one of total “uncertainty,” warning that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has placed one-sixth of humanity at a critical economic crossroads. “I think if I were to use one word, that’s uncertainty. And I think uncertainty prevails even now as much as it did in the first week of this war, which started on the 28th of February,” he said.
Sudhir highlighted that while the entire hydrocarbon spectrum has been affected, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has taken the most severe hit. LPG fuels over 340 million Indian households, making it a matter of national survival rather than only industrial importance. India relies on imports for 62% of its LPG needs, and 90% of those imports come from Gulf countries currently embroiled in or affected by the war.
“While our entire spectrum of hydrocarbons has been impacted, LPG has taken a disproportionate hit. LPG is actually fuel for more than 340 million households. Also, we have to keep in mind the fact that we are reliant on imports to the extent of 62% for LPG, and out of these 62%, 90% comes from Gulf countries,” he said.
Sudhir credited government steps with preventing a total collapse, noting measures such as invoking the LPG Control Act, instructing domestic refineries to maximise LPG production, prioritising domestic cooking gas over industrial use, and proactive diplomacy to procure supplies.
“And due to the crisis which we all see in West Asia and also the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, this has been impacted very, very seriously. But the good thing is that because of the proactive government measures–like you’ll recall the LPG Control Act and invoking it, and also asking our refineries to produce as much of LPG as they can, proactive diplomacy on our part to procure as much of LPG as is possible, also prioritizing LPG for domestic consumption as compared to, say, industrial consumption–I think this has had a good impact to just mitigate the situation,” he said.
Sudhir underlined India’s global importance, noting it must sustain one-sixth of humanity. He provided figures for energy dependence: crude is 89% import-reliant, with 45% of those imports from the Gulf; LPG is 62% import-reliant with 90% from the Gulf; LNG shows 50% import-reliance, and over 60% of that comes from the Gulf, particularly Qatar.
He warned of two specific impacts: the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility. “Qatar has itself claimed that about 17% of the facility has been damaged, which will take more than five years to build back again, and they have declared force majeure. So, that creates a problem for us,” he said. He added that while LNG supplies may see a glut by 2030, the current disruption in early 2026 is acute.
To reduce dependence on current hotspots, India is diversifying: pursuing LNG from Mozambique, where it has made significant investments, and signing long-term contracts with the UAE to decouple from volatile sources. Sudhir said India has signed four long-term LNG contracts with the UAE, with supplies possibly beginning by the end of this year, and referenced other agreements expected by late 2026.
Parallel to Sudhir’s remarks, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a public advisory acknowledging the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and assuring citizens that “necessary measures” are in place to maintain uninterrupted supply. The ministry urged people to avoid panic buying of petrol and diesel and to refrain from “unnecessary” advance bookings of LPG cylinders to prevent artificial shortages. (ANI)
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