New Delhi, 22 August (H.S.): India and Mauritius have strengthened their energy partnership by signing a five-year agreement under which Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) will meet Mauritius’ import requirements for petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF).

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said in a statement on Saturday that the agreement documents were exchanged during Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri’s official visit to Mauritius on August 20-21. The two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

The MoU covers cooperation in the supply of petroleum products, training and capacity building, as well as biofuels. Under the agreement, Indian Oil will meet Mauritius’ entire import requirement for petrol, high-speed diesel and aviation turbine fuel.

The agreement is expected to further strengthen India’s position as a key energy security partner in the Indian Ocean region and deepen bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

The Petroleum Ministry said the agreement comes at a time when countries are seeking to reinforce their energy security amid the possibility of disruptions in global fuel supplies. Continued instability in West Asia has further underscored the importance of maintaining secure and reliable energy supplies.

Despite the ongoing crisis in West Asia, India has continued to honour its commitments to supply petroleum products to Nepal and Bhutan, reinforcing its position as a reliable regional supplier.

India has emerged as a major refining hub, with its 23 refineries producing around 267 million tonnes of refined petroleum products annually. The country is a net exporter of refined fuels and already supplies petroleum products to neighbouring Nepal and Bhutan, besides exporting substantial volumes to several other markets across the region and beyond.

The latest agreement builds on the commercial relationship between India and Mauritius that has developed over more than two decades. Indian Oil entered the Mauritian market in 2001 through its subsidiary, Indian Oil (Mauritius) Limited, and has since maintained a presence in the country’s energy sector.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar