India Mandates Energy Data for Security

India's government has classified energy data as a matter of national security, issuing the Petroleum and Natural Gas (Furnishing of Information) Order, 2026. This order mandates all entities across the oil and gas value chain, including refiners, LNG importers, pipeline operators, and petrochemical firms, to furnish detailed operational information to the India===Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC). The data to be disclosed includes production, imports, stock levels, and consumption patterns, with reporting potentially required daily. This directive overrides existing confidentiality provisions and is a response to heightened energy security concerns following disruptions in the Middle East, which impacted India's gas and LPG supplies. The initiative aims to create a centralized, real-time data framework to enable faster responses to supply disruptions, prioritize critical sectors, and facilitate more informed procurement decisions, thereby strengthening India's ability to manage its energy supply chains and reduce vulnerability to geopolitical shocks.