Uche Cecil Izuora
Nigeria has turned a strategic energy import partner to India as the country turns to Africa to secure more import of its energy needs following tensions between Israel-America and Iran.
India’s energy imports from Africa are steadily increasing as the country accelerates efforts to diversify its sourcing base and reduce reliance on traditional supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz, amid ongoing disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict, reported Times of India.
In response to the evolving situation, India has broadened its procurement base across multiple regions. Officials said the country is sourcing LPG from the United States, Russia, Canada, Norway, and West African nations such as Nigeria, Algeria, and Angola.
For LNG, supply discussions and shipments involve countries including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Mozambique. Some cargoes have already been secured, while negotiations with other suppliers are in advanced stages.
As per officials cited in the report, the availability of crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and liquefied natural gas (LNG) has improved significantly compared to a month ago when tensions in West Asia first began affecting global supply chains. The government has been actively expanding its supplier network to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability for both consumers and critical sectors.
The availability of energy has certainly improved, and we are in a much better position than a month ago,” Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the petroleum ministry told ET.
India has been prioritising the steady supply of LPG and LNG while also adjusting crude import strategies to mitigate risks arising from geopolitical disruptions. According to officials, diversification has helped cushion the immediate impact of supply uncertainties linked to the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy chockepoint.
India currently imports around 5.5–5.6 million barrels of crude oil per day.
Prior to the conflict, approximately 40–45 per cent of these imports were routed through the Strait of Hormuz. In the case of LPG, India meets nearly 60 per cent, of its annual demand of about 31 million tonnes through imports, with nearly 90 per cent of those shipments previously transiting through the same route. Natural gas consumption in the country stands at around 191 million standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd), with 51 per cent of demand met through imports, of which roughly 60 per cent originates from West Asia.
Energy imports from Africa, in particular, have shown a steady upward trend, reflecting India’s longer-term strategy of reducing dependence on any single region. Over the past decade, crude oil sourcing has been expanded from 27 countries to 41 countries, helping bring down reliance on the Strait of Hormuz from about 45 per cent to nearly 30 per cent.
Despite global disruptions, officials maintained that domestic inventories of petroleum products and LPG remain sufficient. Sharma noted that while delivery timelines for domestic LPG cylinders have temporarily increased to 4–5 days due to a spike in panic bookings, there has been no shortage or supply disruption reported. These delivery timelines are expected to normalise as demand stabilises.
Overall, authorities said the combination of diversified sourcing, increased imports from Africa and other regions, and active management of supply chains has placed India in a stronger position to manage energy needs despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.