The move follows large-scale buying of Russian crude by Indian refiners, who secured more than 40 million barrels to deal with supply crunch from the Middle East.
Gold prices saw a fifth consecutive day of decline on Tuesday, despite rising retail rates in major Indian cities. Futures contracts on MCX and international markets fell due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Investors are now keenly awaiting key US economic data for insights into the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured India of sufficient crude oil storage and uninterrupted supply amidst the West Asia war’s global fuel crunch. He highlighted the nation’s strategic oil reserves and increased refining capacity, while emphasizing India’s commitment to peace through dialogue and diplomacy in the region.
India’s strategic oil reserves can cover approximately 9.5 days of supply during disruptions, with current reserves at two-thirds capacity. This announcement comes amid rising global crude oil prices due to the Middle East conflict. The nation, heavily reliant on imports, is diversifying its crude sourcing to mitigate supply risks.
