"Recent Strait Of Hormuz Geopolitics Exposed Vulnerabilities In India's Energy Supply Chains." Discuss India's Strategic Necessity To Diversify Maritime Routes With Lessons From UAE's Zero Hormuz Dependency Model. (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Q. “Recent Strait of Hormuz geopolitics exposed vulnerabilities in India’s energy supply chains.” Discuss India’s strategic necessity to diversify maritime routes with lessons from UAE’s Zero Hormuz Dependency model. (10 Marks, 150 Words)

June 22, 2026

GS Paper IIInternational Relations

Core Demand of the Question

Strategic vulnerabilities of India’s energy supply chains via the Strait of Hormuz
Importance of diversifying maritime routes and alternative corridors
Lessons from UAE’s “Zero Hormuz Dependency” strategy

Answer

Introduction

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for India, carrying a major share of LPG and crude imports. Recent geopolitical developments, including Iran asserting control over transit and creating the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, exposed vulnerabilities in India’s tightly scheduled imports and limited Indian-flagged fleet.

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Strategic Vulnerabilities of India’s Energy Supply Chains

Over-reliance on a single chokepoint : Heavy dependence on the Strait exposes India to supply disruptions during conflicts or sanctions.
Eg : The April 2026 Iran–US conflict highlighted how Iran could influence the flow of energy exports, causing potential supply uncertainty.
Limited Indian-flagged carriers and storage capacity : Small fleet size and lack of long-term cavern storage increase risk during transit delays.
Eg: India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) remains capped at roughly 9.5 days of net imports.
Geopolitical leverage of transit states : Iran’s control over transit fees and operational regulations can impact energy security.
Eg: The Persian Gulf Strait Authority now manages all shipping in Hormuz, limiting India’s unilateral control.

Strategic Necessity to Diversify

Alternative ports and corridors : Reduces reliance on Hormuz and mitigates risks from geopolitical instability.
Eg: Chabahar Port in Iran offers a land-sea corridor to Afghanistan, bypassing Hormuz. Anchoring offloading partnerships at Fujairah (UAE), Duqm (Oman), or Salalah (Oman), which sit cleanly outside the chokepoint and connect directly to cross-peninsular pipelines would give further security.
Leveraging existing infrastructure and strategic storage : Investing in caverns, tank farms, and inland transport increases resilience.
Eg: UAE’s “Zero Hormuz Dependency” strategy uses pipelines and inland storage to maintain uninterrupted energy flow.
Strategic partnerships :Collaborations with Gulf and friendly nations diversify risk and ensure multiple supply routes.
Eg: India–UAE energy cooperation and agreements with Oman can secure alternative maritime access.

Way Forward

Invest in alternative ports and corridors : Expand capacity at Chabahar, Salalah, and other strategic ports to handle LPG and crude imports.
Enhance strategic storage : Develop long-term cavern storage and tank farms to buffer supply disruptions.
Strengthen international partnerships : Formalise agreements with Gulf states and other allies for alternative maritime and land routes.

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Conclusion

Diversifying maritime routes and building strategic storage, alongside partnerships, is essential to safeguard India’s energy security. Lessons from UAE’s Zero Hormuz Dependency model provide a practical roadmap for mitigating chokepoint vulnerabilities while ensuring uninterrupted energy supply.

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