Energy data now under security lens to track supply chain

New Delhi: The government has classified energy data as a matter of national security, mandating all entities across the oil and gas value chain to share detailed operational information. The Petroleum and Natural Gas (Furnishing of Information) Order, 2026 requires companies, including refiners, LNG importers, pipeline operators and city gas distributors, to regularly submit granular data to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC).

The directive covers production, imports, exports, stock levels, storage, transportation and consumption patterns. Companies may be required to report data daily, weekly or monthly, depending on government specifications. The order overrides existing confidentiality clauses, meaning firms cannot withhold information on grounds of commercial sensitivity. The move comes amid heightened energy security concerns following disruptions in the Middle East, which have impacted global supply chains. India remains heavily dependent on imports, sourcing around 88% of crude oil, 50% of natural gas and 60% of LPG from overseas markets, much of it routed through the Strait of Hormuz.