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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3489
ANSWERED ON - 23/03/2026
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVES (SPR) AND ENERGY SECURITY
3489. SHRI UJJWAL DEORAO NIKAM :
SHRI KESRIDEVSINH JHALA :
SHRI NARHARI AMIN :
DR. KAVITA PATIDAR :
SHRI JAGGESH :
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
a) whether Government has successfully commenced the construction of the Phase II Strategic
Petroleum Reserves in Chandikhole (Odisha) and Padur (Karnataka);
b) the manner in which the newly introduced Commercial-cum-Strategic storage model has
successfully attracted international oil majors to store crude in Indian caverns;
c) the specific success Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) has recorded in
maintaining the national 74-day supply cushion during the global oil price volatility; and
d) the manner in which the increased allocation of ₹200 crore for Mission Anveshan in the 2026-
27 Budget has helped the ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) in securing new overseas energy assets in the
Andaman and Nicobar basins?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
(SHRI SURESH GOPI)
(a) In July’ 2021, the Government approved the establishment of two additional facilities for
commercial cum strategic storage with total storage capacity of 6.5 MMT, at Chandikhol (4 MMT) in
Odisha and Padur (2.5 MMT) in Karnataka.
Work for construction at Padur has been awarded on 01.10.2025.
(b) In July 2021, the Government also approved the commercialization of Phase – I SPRs under which
an agreement was signed between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) of UAE, and ISPRL
permitting ADNOC to use Cavern-A with 750 TMT capacity at Mangalore.
(c) The current total national capacity for storage of crude oil and petroleum products is 74 days which
includes capacity of storage facilities of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). The actual reserve is a
dynamic number depending on the stocks and actual consumption, both of which are not static.
(d) ONGC Videsh operates exclusively in overseas assets and, therefore, is not eligible for any
allocation under Mission Anveshan.
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