‘No specific information’: Shipping official amid reports of vessel carrying Iranian oil heading towards India

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like Hours after reports of a vessel carrying Iranian crude heading towards India, the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways said it did not know of any such development. Vadinar, where reports said the ship was headed, is home to the oil refinery of Russian oil giant Rosneft-backed Naraya Energy. (PTI/ Representational)Mukesh Mangal, additional secretary at the shipping ministry, when asked about an Iranian oil ship moving towards India, replied that the government had “no specific information” on the vessel. Mangal made the remark during an inter-ministerial briefing on the recent developments in West Asia. Ship tracking data had earlier suggested that India's first Iranian crude oil cargo since 2019 may be heading towards a port in Gujarat, PTI news agency reported. Sumit Ritolia, lead research analyst for refining and modelling at commodity market analytic firm Kpler, had earlier suggested that the vessel Ping Shun was en route to Vadinar in Gujarat with 600,000 barrels of crude. HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the information. This comes after the US President Donald Trump-led administration's "30-day window for Iranian oil "on the water" due to regional conflict," PTI cited Ritolia as saying. Imports from Iran had ceased from May, 2019 following US sanctions on Iranian oil tightening in 2018. The volumes were replaced by Middle Eastern, US and other grades. Vadinar, where reports said the ship was headed, is home to the oil refinery of Russian oil giant Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy. The US window for Iranian oil lifts on expires April 19. An estimated 95 million barrels of Iranian oil is on vessels on sea, PTI reported. Meanwhile, Sujata Sharma, joint secretary at the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, said that India currently has “sufficient quantities of petrol and diesel available.” “To ensure adequate availability of ATF and diesel in the domestic market, the Government of India has also imposed an export levy...” Sharma said during the inter-ministerial briefing. The joint secretary also appealed to the citizens to “avoid panic buying.” Arya Mishra is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi, and a key member of the digital news team focusing on urgent breaking developments across India and the world. With a sharp editorial instinct and strong reporting skills, Arya covers high-impact crime incidents, public safety and justice issues, political developments, education policy and international affairs, consistently delivering clear, accurate and timely journalism. Her recent reporting highlights include detailed coverage of serious criminal cases, politics as well as analyses of national education reforms and international diplomatic moves. On the world news front, she has written about global trade policy changes and security developments, including tariff shifts by the United States and strategic counter-terrorism strategies being rolled out by Ministry of Home Affairs. Arya thrives in fast-paced environments – running live blogs, crafting in-depth explainers and real-time news coverage that keeps readers informed as stories evolve. Before joining Hindustan Times, she was a part of The Indian Express online team. Outside the newsroom, she is an avid reader, with a love for thriller and suspense fiction, and enjoys music as a way to unwind. With more than three years of experience in dynamic newsrooms, Arya brings curiosity, clarity and commitment to every story she covers.Read More