An Indian LPG tanker, Green Sanvi, has successfully crossed the war-hit Strait of Hormuz, carrying 46,650 tonnes of LPG cargo. This is the seventh Indian-flagged LPG tanker to have transited the strategic waterway, which has remained effectively shut since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28.
Separately, an LPG cargo from Iran has arrived at Mangalore and is being discharged, marking the first purchase of Iranian energy in seven years. The purchase follows the United States' temporary waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil and refined products to ease prices that have skyrocketed since the start of the Middle East conflict.
With 17 Indian-flagged vessels remaining stranded on the west side of the strait, the arrivals will help ease the worst LPG shortage India is battling in decades. India relies on imports from the Gulf nations to meet as much as 60 per cent of its cooking gas needs, with imports accounting for about 60 per cent of demand.
The US and Israel attacks on Iran and Tehran's sweeping retaliation have all but halted shipping through the strait, but Iran has stated that 'non-hostile vessels' may transit the waterway after coordinating with Iranian authorities.
