Government asks PSU refiners to review Saudi oil deals

Why is it in news?
  • India has asked its state refiners to review contracts for buying crude oil from the West Asian nation and negotiate more favourable terms.
Details:
  • There are tensions between India and Saudi Arabia over oil production cuts.
  • India is keen to break the producers’ cartel dictating pricing and contractual terms.
  • Government has told Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), BPCL and HPCL to look for supplies from outside the region and use collective bargaining power to get favourable terms.
Background:
  • India imports 85% of its oil needs and is often vulnerable to global supply and price shocks.
  • When oil prices started to rise in February, it wanted Saudi Arabia to relax output controls but the Kindgom ignored its calls.
  • This has led to the government now pressing for diversification of the supply base.
Source: The Hindu.




Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 3rd Apr 2021