Kamal Ghorui
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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation related to petroleum, crude oil, natural gas, power and fertiliser sectors amid the evolving situation in the Middle East.The meeting focused on ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential resources, maintaining stable logistics, and streamlining distribution across the country. Officials briefed the Prime Minister on preparedness measures to tackle any potential disruptions arising from geopolitical developments in the region.
The government is closely monitoring the situation to safeguard energy security and ensure that supply chains remain resilient, with an emphasis on minimising any impact on consumers and key sectors of the economy.On March 12, PM Modi had said that the war in the Middle East region has triggered a worldwide energy crisis, calling it a “critical test of national character” that requires handling the situation with peace, patience and greater public awareness. The prime minister had also emphasised that the government is working relentlessly to address disruptions in international supply chains. “Continuous efforts are also underway to determine how we can overcome the disruptions that have occurred in the supply chain,” he said.The conflict, now in its third week, began on February 28 with attacks by the US and Israel on Iran and has since escalated, with Iran retaliating against Israel and several Gulf neighbours.Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route for energy supplies, has significantly impacted movement, with limited ships allowed to pass. The resulting blockade has disrupted energy supplies to several countries, including India.Since the conflict began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held telephonic conversations with several global leaders, including those from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, France, Malaysia, Israel and Iran.
