India's Energy Crisis from Strait of Hormuz Closure

The West Asia crisis, initiated by strikes from the United States and Israel on Iran and subsequent retaliatory attacks, has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This critical maritime passage, through which a substantial portion of global energy supplies, including India's crude oil, LPG, and LNG imports, normally transits, has been disrupted for nearly two weeks. As a result, India is facing severe energy supply pressures, forcing its government to implement emergency measures. These include the temporary reintroduction of kerosene for household use and permitting coal and other alternative fuels for hotels and restaurants, reversing previous environmental policies. The government is also diversifying its energy sources, securing crude oil from 40 countries and LPG from nations like the United States, Norway, Canada, Algeria, and Russia. Additionally, measures to manage demand, such as increasing LPG refill intervals and expanding delivery authentication codes, have been put in place to prevent hoarding and black-market activities. Despite these efforts, the situation represents one of the most significant energy supply shocks in recent decades, impacting various sectors and consumer behavior in India.