Good news on LPG! Indian LPG tanker Green Asha clears strait of Hormuz, boosting fuel supplies

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): There is good news for the country on the LPG front. The Indian-flagged ship Green Asha has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow sea passage near Iran. This is the ninth Indian ship to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since tensions began in the Gulf region. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of hostilities with the United States and Israel.

This route is crucial for the global energy sector, as 20 percent of the world's petroleum trade passes through it. According to reports, the Green Asha is an LPG tanker, and its successful transit through the Strait of Hormuz despite increased risks reflects India's continued reliance on the region. This tension has disrupted the global fuel supply chain, severely challenging the world's energy markets. Maritime data shows that approximately 60 percent of cargo ships using this route are either coming from or heading to Iran. Despite these challenges, Indian shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz remains relatively strong.

Before Green Asha's voyage, at least eight Indian ships had transited this route. These included the LPG carriers BW TYR and BW ELM, which transported approximately 94,000 tonnes of cargo from the conflict zone. In late March, four Indian-flagged LPG tankers, including Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, delivered more than 92,600 tonnes of LPG over a three-day period. Prior to this, MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi delivered approximately 92,700 tonnes of LPG to the Mundra and Kandla ports in Gujarat in mid-March. Other shipments included crude and fuel.

The oil tanker Jag Ladki transported more than 80,000 tons of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates to Mundra, while the Jag Prakash transited the Strait of Hormuz carrying gasoline from Oman to African markets. Another LPG carrier, the Green Sanvi, also recently completed its voyage with approximately 46,650 metric tons of cargo.