July 27, 2026: Hormuz Becomes A Theatre Of War: The Strait of Hormuz has been a critical chokepoint for crude oil flows in the region. In 2025, about 20 million barrels of oil and oil products passed through the Strait which is bound to the North by Iran and to the South by Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Geographically, the strait is not very close to India. But any battle in Hormuz can play havoc with the Indian economy as it is the most critical maritime chokepoint handling about 50% of India's crude oil imports, 85% of its LPG supplies, and 55% of its LNG shipments. A shutdown threatens continuous refinery operations, power generation, and household cooking gas deliveries. For India, the sensible thing would be to change its crude acquisition strategy. India may have to depend more on Russia, the US, Venezuela and Africa for its crude requirements which do not have to come through Hormuz. The situation is similar to the one in 1970s when India signed a friendship treaty with the erstwhile Soviet Union to counter then US President Richard Nixon’s tilt towards Pakistan. Russia is already the single largest source of crude for India. Of late, its share in the Indian crude basket has been rising every month. Click Free Access column Petro Intelligence to read an insightful peace.

In column Policy:

• Will Surging Crude Price Touch $120 Per Barrel As Predicted?
• Refined Petroleum Products Market Facing A Difficult Period
• Despite Trump's Admonition, India Increases Oil Imports From Russia
• Oil Marketing Companies May Join The Race For SPR Facilities
• The Successful Ethanol Blending Programme Faces Flak

In column Regulation:

• India Imposes Windfall Tax On Petroleum Products Export
• India’s Fuel Quality Standards Being Watched By Alert Consumers
• Upstream Major ONGC Ventures Into Geothermal Energy
• Controversy Over Shale Gas Reserves In Assam, North East

There are exclusive reports in other columns as well.