REUTERS, New Delhi

India has secured crude oil supplies for the next 60 days, ensuring stable fuel supplies in the country despite disruption ​in shipments from the Middle East, the oil ministry said in ‌a statement on Thursday.

India, the world’s third biggest oil consumer and importer, was buying over 40 percent of its oil imports from the Middle East. Those supplies are disrupted due to ​the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Higher availability of crude in global markets, mainly ​from the Western hemisphere, has helped offset the shortfall, the government said.

Taking advantage of a temporary US waiver, Indian refiners have also ramped ​up purchases of Russian crude, securing millions of barrels to fill the supply ​gap.

“Despite the situation at the Strait of Hormuz, India is today receiving more crude oil from its 41-plus suppliers across the world than what was previously arriving through the Strait,” the ​ministry said.

As a net exporter of petroleum products, India’s domestic availability of ​petrol and diesel remains structurally secure, the government said.

The world’s fourth-largest refiner has oil and fuel ‌stocks sufficient to meet 60 days of demand, against a total storage capacity of 74 days, it added.

“Nearly two months of steady supply is available for every Indian citizen, regardless of what happens globally. The next two months of crude ​procurement have also ​been secured,” it added.

India has asked refiners to maximise production of liquefied petroleum gas, used as cooking fuel, as the nation was buying ​90 percent of its LPG imports from the Middle East.