India's energy regulator is moving to strengthen the country's vulnerable gas supply chain.

India's energy regulator is moving to strengthen the country's vulnerable gas supply chain. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board proposes setting up overground LNG storage facilities near existing terminals to address growing supply risks. With West Asia conflicts disrupting tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and threatening Qatar's exports, India's precarious position is exposed. The nation imports 55 percent of its gas needs while maintaining only 20 days of inventory. Current LNG stocks cover just 21 days of demand. The proposal includes funding storage construction through usage surcharges rather than government subsidies. Overground facilities would cost less and build faster than underground alternatives. Natural gas currently represents 7 percent of India's energy mix, with government targets to reach 15 percent by 2030.