New Delhi is holding talks with Iran to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz for six Indian tankers, Bloomberg reported Monday.
“Indian authorities are focused on achieving safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for six liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers as part of talks with Iran,” the agency writes citing informed sources.
According to the agency, the ships are carrying a total of 270,000 tonnes of gas fuel for domestic needs and petrochemicals. According to the agency’s sources, “the authorities prioritise them over oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers because of the acute shortage of LPG in the country”.
The agency recalls that about 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports come from the Middle East, and the virtual blockage of the Strait of Hormuz has hit restaurants, households and petrochemical producers who use the gas to make plastics.
Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, citing knowledgeable sources, Indian authorities are also seeking safe passage for oil and LNG tankers. The agency’s interlocutors specified that the vessels are chartered by companies including Petronet LNG Ltd, IOC, HPCL and Reliance Industries Ltd.
Earlier, India had secured permission from Iran for two of its tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Indian media reported that 24 Indian-flagged cargo ships are now stranded in the Gulf region. Among them are six LPG tankers, four crude oil tankers and one LNG carrier.
The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on 28 February.