US-Israel conflict with Iran: Is India exploring alternative energy options amid crisis?

NEW DELHI: As geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East, India is exploring alternative energy sources to strengthen its energy security, with countries such as Australia and Canada offering additional gas supplies, according to official sources cited by PTI on Saturday.With ships and oil tankers avoiding the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf amid fears of attacks, one of the world’s key energy transit routes has been disrupted.However, these officials said the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran and the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz have not affected India’s energy supplies, as the country now relies on a diversified network of crude import routes.The sources said that only around 40% of India’s crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while the remaining 60% are transported through other supply routes, which remain unaffected by the current crisis.

They emphasised that India's energy strategy has evolved significantly, ensuring that disruption in a single corridor does not lead to a supply emergency.Also read: Why US 'agreed to let' India resume buying Russian oil temporarily

Which countries have offered additional supplies?

According to officials, crude supplies from Russia, West Africa, the Americas, Central Asia and non-Gulf Middle Eastern routes have allowed India to manage sourcing adjustments smoothly even during global disruptions.Several countries, including Australia and Canada, have offered additional gas supplies as India continues to expand its energy partnerships.

Officials added that India has also recently entered into new energy supply arrangements with the United States and the United Arab Emirates to ensure stable long-term energy availability.Over the past decade, India has significantly broadened its energy supplier base, increasing it from 27 to 40 countries across six continents.Sources said this diversification means that India’s energy security is no longer tied to a single maritime chokepoint.According to the officials, India’s crude procurement strategy remains guided by national interest or "wherever supplies are available.""We source crude from wherever supplies are available, competitively priced, and deliverable, and we will continue to do so. This has been our consistent position across administrations and across geopolitical cycles," a senior government official told PTI, adding that the recent US statements are meant for the country's domestic audience.Explained: How Iran war is driving sharp rise in oil and gas prices

US waiver on Russian Oil

The remarks come after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday announced a 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to continue purchasing Russian oil, calling India an essential partner in global energy markets.Officials noted that India has complied with all 18 rounds of the G7 price cap rules since they were introduced.The waiver, they said, removes unnecessary friction and acknowledges the stabilising role played by India’s refining and procurement capacity in global energy markets.Sources added that India remains in close coordination with major global oil and gas suppliers as well as international energy organisations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).Officials reiterated that India's energy transactions have remained within "international regulations." "India acted within international law throughout.

Every transaction used compliant shipping, audited channels, and legal traders. India did not break the rules. India stabilised markets and the record of global crude prices during a period when India was actively procuring is the clearest evidence of that," the official added.

Sources also pointed out that fuel prices in India have remained relatively stable compared with several other countries. According to officials, petrol prices during the same period rose by about 55% in Pakistan, 22% in Germany, 19% in France and 11.54% in the United States, while India’s petrol prices increased by less than 1% .India currently holds nearly eight weeks of total inventory cover for crude oil and petroleum products, including strategic reserves. This includes approximately 25 days of crude oil stocks and around 25 days of petrol and diesel inventory.Officials said government decisions in the petroleum sector continue to be guided by three key criteria: affordability, availability and sustainability, ensuring stable fuel supply for consumers.