New Delhi, August 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India is expanding its refining capacity towards 300 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) as global refining capacity faces uncertainty, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday.
Puri said India, currently the world’s third-largest refiner, has 23 refineries with combined capacity of nearly 270 MMTPA, with overall refining capacity having risen from 272 MMTPA and now moving towards the 300 MMTPA mark.
“As a net exporter of refined petroleum products, India sees this capacity not merely as an asset, but as a responsibility to be a dependable, transparent and stable energy partner for friends across the world, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. That’s the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which the world admires and respects,” Puri said in a post on X.
The minister was speaking in the context of India’s expanding energy partnership with Mauritius. India and Mauritius on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the oil and gas sector, along with a five-year agreement between IndianOil and the State Trading Corporation (STC) of Mauritius for assured supplies of petroleum products.
Puri signed the MoU with Mauritius Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection John Michael Tzoun Sao Yeung Sik Yuen.
Under the five-year supply agreement, IndianOil will provide petrol, diesel, marine gas oil and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to Mauritius. The arrangement is intended to provide the island nation with greater supply certainty, price stability and enhanced energy security.
Puri said the agreements marked a new phase in bilateral energy cooperation and would contribute to Mauritius’ mobility, connectivity and economic growth.
“These G2G and B2B agreements mark a new chapter in India-Mauritius energy cooperation, providing Mauritius with stable, reliable energy supplies and positioning IndianOil as a trusted anchor supplier for the next three years,” he said.
He also highlighted Mauritius’ new National Biofuel Policy Framework, developed with support from the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), of which Mauritius is a founding member. According to Puri, the framework creates scope for deeper cooperation in clean and sustainable fuels beyond crude oil and refined petroleum products.
The minister said India’s energy partnership with Mauritius reflected a shared commitment to predictability, stability and mutual prosperity.
The cooperation builds on an energy relationship dating back to 2001, when IndianOil began serving Mauritius through IndianOil Mauritius Limited. Puri said India remained committed to supporting Mauritius’ long-term energy security and strengthening bilateral cooperation.
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