India ab apne strategic petroleum reserves ko manage karne ke liye ek naye 'commercial model' par shift ho raha hai. Infrastructure projects mein delays ki wajah se, ab private aur global companies ke saath milkar oil storage badhaya jayega taaki government ka budget par pressure na pade.
India ka naya energy pivot
India ke pass abhi 5.33 million tonnes ki strategic storage capacity hai jo Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, aur Padur mein hai. Lekin sach ye hai ki ye sirf 1 hafte ki demand puri kar sakta hai, jabki India apni 85% se zyada crude oil import karta hai. Geopolitical tension ke daur mein ye risk kaafi bada hai.
Projects kyun latak rahe hain?
Government ne 2018 mein 6.5 million tonnes ki extra capacity ka plan banaya tha, par administrative hurdles ki wajah se kaam kachhue ki chaal se chal raha hai. Padur ka expansion contract 2025 mein hua aur Chandikhol ka 4-million-tonne project abhi bhi planning phase mein hi hai. Puraane records batate hain ki capacity utilization 8.74% se 58.41% ke beech rahi hai, matlab hamare caverns ka poora istemal hi nahi ho paya.
Commercial Model kya hai?
Ab government Abu Dhabi National Oil Company jaise international players ke saath haath mila rahi hai. Isme international producers apna oil hamare tanks mein store karenge. Iska faayda ye hai ki India ke paas 'Right of First Refusal' hoga, yaani emergency mein India pehle ye oil khareed sakta hai.
UAE ke saath May 2026 mein hui deal iska perfect example hai. Isse naye tanks banane ka bhari-bharkam kharcha bach raha hai aur desh ki energy security bhi bani hui hai. Investors ke liye ab nazar is baat par honi chahiye ki kitni jaldi ye nayi deals final hoti hain aur storage ka usage kaise badhta hai.