India-bound LPG Tanker Crosses Strait of Hormuz After a 2-Week Lull: Why It Matters

📌 Summary:

• LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti (Marshall Islands-flagged, ~45,000 MT LPG) crossed the Strait of Hormuz on May 2, 2026 — the first major India-bound energy tanker to cross after a 2-week disruption caused by the Iran-US conflict

• Earlier, crude tanker Desh Garima had crossed on April 18 after Iran announced free passage, but two Indian vessels came under Iranian fire the same day forcing others to return

• The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint: ~20% of global oil and ~30% of LNG passes through it; for India, ~70% of crude oil and LPG imports transit through the Strait

• India's LPG import dependence: India imports ~60% of its LPG requirements; major suppliers are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and Kuwait — all requiring Hormuz transit

• The 2-week lull caused: (1) LPG supply shortage in domestic market; (2) Panic buying, black marketing, and hoarding; (3) Price increases in LPG and PNG; (4) Government enforcement raids across country

• The successful crossing is a relief signal but does not indicate full normalisation — Iran's blockade posture can resume

• India has been diversifying energy sources but short-term vulnerability remains high due to lack of strategic LPG reserves (unlike crude oil where India has SPR)

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Energy security; India's import dependence; GS2 — IR; India-West Asia relations; maritime security

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Strait of Hormuz: separates Iran and Oman; ~34 km wide at narrowest; controlled jointly by Iran and Oman

• ~20% of global petroleum trade passes through Hormuz

• India has Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) for crude oil (about 9.5 days' import) but no equivalent LPG strategic reserve

🔑 Key Term: Strait of Hormuz — A narrow maritime chokepoint between Iran and Oman connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, through which ~20% of global oil and ~30% of global LNG trade passes