Lok Sabha Question No. 3275 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Expansion of India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Smt. Jyotsna Charandas Mahant, Adv. Adoor Prakash, Shri Parshottambhai Rupala

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3275 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 th  MARCH, 2025

## Expansion of India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves

3275. Adv. Adoor Prakash: Smt. Jyotsna Charandas Mahant: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  current  storage  capacity  of  India's  Strategtic  Petroleum  Reserves  (SPR)  and  the volume of crude oil  stored as of 2025;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  initiated  any  plan  to  expand  SPR  capacity  to  enhance energy security,if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the status of the  proposed  public-private partnerships  in  the  expansion  of  SPR infrastructure;
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to improve strategic crude oil reserves in the country along with the financial advantages resulting from these initiatives;
- (e) the current status of crude oil reserves in the country; and
- (f) whether any action taken/being taken by the Government to set up Strategic Petroleum Reserves in Rajkot and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेᮝोिलयम और ᮧाकृ ितक गैस मंᮢालय मᱶ रा᭔यमंᮢी ( ᮰ी सुरेश गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a)  to  (f):      Government,  through  a Special  Purpose Vehicle called  Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve  Limited  (ISPRL),  has  established  Strategic  Petroleum  Reserves  (SPR)  facilities  with total  capacity  of  5.33  Million  Metric  Tonnes  (MMT)  of  crude  oil  at  3  locations  namely  (i) Vishakhapatnam (1.33 MMT), (ii) Mangaluru (1.5 MMT) and (iii) Padur (2.5 MMT) capacity. The  quantity  of  the  crude  available  in  the  caverns  varies  depending  on  market  conditions. However, currently ISPRL has around 3.52 MMT of crude stock available in the caverns.

In July 2021, Government had also approved the establishment of two additional commercialcum-strategic petroleum reserve facilities with total storage capacity of 6.5 MMT at Chandikhol

(4 MMT) in Odisha and Padur (2.5 MMT) in Karnataka, on a Public Private Partnership mode. Government and OMCs evaluate, from time to time, the possibility of augmentation of storage capacities based on technical and commercial  feasibility. Assessment  of new  sites for establishing additional petroleum reserves is a continuous process.

Taking advantage of low crude oil prices in April/May 2020, the Strategic Petroleum Reserves were filled to full capacity, leading to notional savings of approximately INR 5000 crore.

In addition, Government has also allowed ISPRL to utilize part of the petroleum reserves created under Phase-I of Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR)  progamme  for  commercialisation operations,  to  undertake  leasing/renting  of  30%  of  overall  oil  storage  capacity  of  caverns  to Indian or foreign companies as well as sale/purchase of 20% of overall oil storage capacity of caverns to Indian companies. The proceeds received from the sale of crude oil, which is to be leased out, are returned to the Government.

The current total national capacity for storage of crude oil  and petroleum products is 74 days cover which includes capacity of storage facilities of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) of 64.5 days.

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