'No payment issues with Iran, crude supplies fully secured': Oil Ministry debunks fake reports

The Ministry said that reports of an oil tanker carrying Iranian crude rerouting from India to China mid-voyage due to payment issues is "factually incorrect."

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said Saturday that there are no payment issues with Iran for crude imports and that refiners continue to source oil from the country, as well as from a wide range of global suppliers.

In a post on X, the Ministry also said that reports of an oil tanker carrying Iranian crude rerouting from India to China mid-voyage due to payment issues is "factually incorrect."

"India imports crude oil from 40+ countries, with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources and geographies based on commercial considerations," it said.

"Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran, and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports, contrary to the rumours being circulated."

Ship-tracking firm Kpler on Friday stated that Aframax tanker Ping Shun, built in 2002 and sanctioned by the US in 2025, is now signalling Dongying in China as its destination instead of Vadinar in Gujarat, which it had indicated earlier this week. Oil on Ping Shun would have been the first Iranian crude that India would have purchased since 2019.

"Claims on vessel diversion ignore how the oil trade works. Bills of Lading often carry indicative discharge ports, destinations and on-sea cargoes can change destinations mid-voyage based on trade optimisation and operational flexibility," the ministry said.

"It is reiterated that India's crude oil requirements remain fully secured for the coming months." Ping Shun is estimated to be carrying about 6,00,000 barrels of oil that was loaded from Kharg Island around March 4. Its declared ETA to Vadinar was April 4, according to Kpler.

The ministry also said that an LPG vessel, Sea Bird, carrying about 44,000 tonnes of Iranian LPG, berthed at Mangalore on April 2 and is currently discharging cargo.

(With PTI inputs)