India Must Enhance Strategic Petroleum Reserves to Ensure Energy Security

The source is classified as an analysis/opinion piece.

India’s current strategic petroleum reserves are insufficient to ensure national energy security amid the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, according to an analysis published by NDTV on May 22, 2026.

The report indicates that India presently maintains strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) capacities that cover 17 days of requirements. From a future energy security perspective, the analysis argues that India must significantly enhance these capacities to mitigate the risks associated with global supply disruptions.

Required Reserve Thresholds

The analysis specifies that land-based SPR capacities need to be increased to a minimum of 45 days. This would more than double the current 17-day buffer, providing a more substantial cushion against sudden shocks to the crude oil market.

Beyond land-based storage, the report suggests the possibility of establishing an additional 10 to 15 days of reserves stored at sea on tankers. This combined approach would create a multi-layered defense against energy shortages.

Impact of the US-Iran Conflict

The push for expanded reserves is tied directly to the instability caused by the war between the United States and Iran. The conflict has created volatility in crude oil prices, which directly affects the cost and availability of petrol and compressed natural gas (CNG).

As a major importer of energy, India’s reliance on stable shipping lanes and predictable pricing makes the current 17-day reserve window a vulnerability during a prolonged international conflict.