State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has approved a proposal to expand India’s strategic crude oil reserves by adding 1.75 million tonnes of storage capacity at Mangaluru (Mangalore), Karnataka, according to regulatory disclosures cited by multiple outlets. The projects cleared by the ONGC board will increase the capacity managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL), the government-owned entity responsible for maintaining strategic crude reserves. Current ISPRL underground storage facilities operate at three locations on India’s eastern and western coasts with a combined capacity of 5.33 million tonnes, while two additional storage projects are described as under development and expected to add a further 6.5 million tonnes.

Several reports link the decision to lessons from recent geopolitical disruptions, including risks highlighted during the Iran conflict and disruptions affecting global oil supply routes. The Mangaluru initiative is described by ONGC as being of “national importance” and is expected to include related infrastructure development in line with directions from India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. One outlet notes ONGC has not disclosed the estimated cost or project timeline. The company may leverage existing infrastructure links with its subsidiary Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL).