India Plans Three More Oil Reserves To Reach 90 Day Buffer

04 Jul 2025 CW Team

India, which imports more than 80 per cent of its crude, is mapping out three additional strategic petroleum reserves to lift its emergency stockpile to the 90 day level required for eventual membership of the International Energy Agency.

L. R. Jain, chief executive of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd, said Engineers India Ltd is carrying out feasibility studies for new depots at Bikaner in Rajasthan, Mangalore in Karnataka and Bina in Madhya Pradesh. Cabinet approval will be sought once the reports are complete.

The Bikaner project would use salt caverns to hold about 5.2–5.3 million tonnes of crude, while a new site at Mangalore is envisaged at 1.75 million tonnes. Capacity at Bina is still being finalised.

These proposals come on top of two federally cleared schemes: a 2.5 million tonne extension at Padur in Karnataka and a 4 million tonne facility at Chandikhol in Odisha. India already operates three reserves at Mangalore, Padur and Visakhapatnam with combined storage of 5.33 million tonnes, sufficient for roughly ten days of national demand.

“Building extra capacity means that, in any supply shock, we shall be better prepared,” Jain said, adding that rising domestic fuel consumption also warrants extra storage. Current commercial stocks and in transit supplies give the country cover for about 75 days.

India has reshaped its reserve policy to mirror models in Japan and South Korea, allowing private firms to lease space and trade stored crude, a move expected to attract oil majors and reduce the fiscal burden on the state.

Infrastructure Energy

17 Dec 2025

Vedanta Aluminium Uses 1.57 bn Units of Green Energy in FY25

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, recently reported consumption of 1.57 billion units of renewable energy in FY25, marking a significant milestone in its 2030 decarbonisation roadmap. The company also achieved an 8.96 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity compared to FY21, reinforcing its leadership in India’s low-carbon manufacturing transition. During FY25, Vedanta Aluminium expanded its renewable energy portfolio through long-term power purchase agreements, strengthening its strategy to source nearly 1,500 MW of renewable power over the lon..

Oberoi Group to Develop Luxury Resort at Makaibari Tea Estate

EIH Limited, the flagship company of The Oberoi Group, has announced the signing of a management agreement to develop an Oberoi luxury resort at the iconic Makaibari Tea Estate in Darjeeling. The project marks a key milestone in the Group’s long-term strategy of creating distinctive hospitality experiences in rare and environmentally significant locations. Established in 1859, Makaibari is one of the world’s oldest tea estates and is globally recognised for its Himalayan landscape, primary forests and exceptional biodiversity. Spread across 1,236 acres, the estate houses one of the world�..

GHV Infra Secures Rs 1.09 Bn EPC Order in Jamshedpur

GHV Infra Projects Ltd, a fast-growing EPC company in India’s infrastructure and construction sector, has recently secured a Rs 1.09 billion work order in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Awarded by a reputed group entity, the contract covers end-to-end civil construction, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems, along with high-quality finishing works for a large building development. The project will be executed over a 30-month period, with defined benchmarks for quality, safety and timely delivery. The order strengthens GHV Infra’s footprint in Jamshedpur, a key industrial hub known fo..