India’s Energy Lifeline: The Hormuz Blockade and the Race Against Time

The growing conflict in the Middle East endangers India’s maritime assets. As of March 11, 2026, about 36 to 37 Indian ships are stuck, carrying around 1,100 Indian sailors. These ships are stopped in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman because the Strait of Hormuz is mostly closed. The Ministry of External Affairs says the sailors are safe. The Indian Navy is thinking about escorting the ships out of the combat area. This situation stops maritime traffic and threatens India’s supply chain, since the Strait is used for almost 40% of India's crude oil and LPG imports.

Inside India, the country is using its Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) to deal with the immediate impact of the blockade. With 5.33 million tons of crude stored in two underground sites, India has about 10 to 12 days of emergency reserves. Along with commercial stocks, the total reserve extends considerably providing about 69 days of LPG and over 45 days of diesel and petrol. These reserves have avoided fuel shortages since the disruptions started in late February. Government analysts caution that if the closure lasts, India may need to ration fuel in 4 to 6 weeks, until alternative supplies from Russia or the United States are increased quickly.

India's energy security risk differs based on fuel type, as seen in current stockpiles. LPG has the longest reserve at 69 days, but its high import need (80%) is a concern if the blockade continues into the second quarter of 2026. Diesel and petrol are at medium-risk because of mixed sourcing, but crude oil's vulnerability is the biggest worry. Since the Iran-Israel-U.S. conflict is ongoing, India has limited time to secure its energy future through diplomacy and a move to non-Middle Eastern sources.