The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply crisis in India is showing signs of cooling down as more cargo ships begin to cross the Strait of Hormuz - a strategic transport route disrupted by the Middle East conflict.
According to maritime tracking data, two LPG ships flying Indian flags, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, moved through the Strait of Hormuz on March 23, after following a route close to the Iranian coast - a route believed to have been allowed by Tehran.
Both ships are large-sized gas tankers (VLGC), departing from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and moving towards Iran's Qeshm and Larak islands before continuing their journey.
Hormuz - the world's important oil and gas transportation gateway - has been almost paralyzed since the end of February after airstrikes related to the US, Israel and Iran conflicts. Since then, Iran has tightened maritime traffic control by both warnings and attacks.
In this context, only a small number of ships, mainly related to Iran, China and a few countries like India, can pass through after reaching a safe agreement.
Notably, instead of sending destination signals, the two ships Jag Vasant and Pine Gas only sent identification signals as Indian ships - a measure to reduce risks when passing through sensitive areas. Many other ships also applied similar methods.
Previously, two other Indian LPG ships successfully crossed Hormuz along this corridor. One of them was even escorted by the Iranian navy, according to a source from the crew.
The journey through the Strait of Hormuz usually lasts about 14 hours if there is no interruption.
Data shows that Jag Vasant entered the Persian Gulf on February 26 and promptly loaded goods from Kuwait just before the conflict broke out. Meanwhile, Pine Gas received full LPG loads from Ruwais (UAE) at the same time, but then got stuck.
The continued movement of these ships is seen as a positive sign for India - a country facing disruptions in LPG supply, essential fuel for daily life.
However, the level of "clearance" is still limited. It is estimated that the total amount of LPG from the 4 ships is only enough to meet India's demand for about 2-3 days.
In parallel, New Delhi has implemented many emergency measures to prioritize LPG imports. Seaports are required to reserve port access rights for gas tankers. The Indian Ministry of Transport and Waterways has also issued a directive to ensure uninterrupted supply.
Analysts believe that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool to exert geopolitical pressure, forcing countries to consider between political relations and energy security.
However, the fact that Indian ships continuously pass through Hormuz shows that this country still maintains its balance in the context of escalating tensions, thereby partly ensuring the flow of essential energy.
