Amidst the ongoing tension in West Asia, the ship Apollo Ocean carrying LPG (cooking gas) reached New Mangalore Port on Wednesday night. During this period, concerns regarding energy supply had increased, but the arrival of this ship has brought relief. The ship reached the port at around 8 pm and the work of offloading gas was started the same night. About 16,000 metric tons of LPG has been brought in, which will help in stabilizing the local supply.
Complexity increased due to change of route
Earlier, a ship named Shivalik had come to India from the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier the plan was to unload the gas directly in Mangaluru, but later he unloaded the entire LPG at a port in Gujarat. After this, the same LPG was sent to Karnataka through another ship Apollo Ocean. Even before this, two Indian ships have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and reached India, indicating continuation of the supply.
Impact of West Asia crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the Rajya Sabha that the ongoing conflict in West Asia has created a global energy crisis. This has affected the supply of essential commodities like petrol, diesel, gas and fertilizers. He said that this situation is a matter of concern for India also, because international shipping routes are being affected due to this.
PM Modi also said that any attempt to block an important route like the Strait of Hormuz will not be accepted. India has ensured safe movement of its ships by holding talks at the diplomatic level.
Security priority of Indians
The safety and livelihood of about 1 crore Indians living in Gulf countries is the biggest priority for the government. Amidst this crisis, the government is constantly keeping an eye on their safety.