India is moving to expand its oil storage capacity after a supply shock highlighted the risks facing major importers. State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, or ONGC, plans to build a new storage site at Mangaluru with capacity for about 13 million barrels of oil.
The project points to a broader effort to improve energy security in a country that ranks as the world’s third-largest crude oil importer. By adding more storage, India can create a larger buffer against disruptions in global supply and reduce the pressure caused by sudden swings in oil availability.
For ONGC, the new Mangaluru facility would add a significant layer of resilience to the domestic energy system. Extra storage can help balance import flows, support refinery needs, and give authorities and state companies more flexibility when international markets become unstable.
The decision also underlines how recent turbulence in oil supply chains is shaping long-term planning. Expanding storage infrastructure is one of the clearest ways for India to prepare for future shocks while trying to protect fuel availability in a volatile global market.
