New Delhi, April 4 (NationPress) The government has strongly refuted allegations and social media assertions claiming that a shipment of Iranian crude oil was redirected from Vadinar, India, to China over payment difficulties, labeling these claims as “factually incorrect” and misleading.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has emphasized that the recent narratives suggesting a loss of an Iranian oil shipment due to financial issues are unfounded.

The government pointed out that India sources crude oil from over 40 different nations, and oil companies are entirely free to select suppliers according to their commercial necessities.

“Reports and social media claims regarding the diversion of an Iranian crude cargo from Vadinar, India to China due to ‘payment issues’ are simply not true,” the ministry stated in a communication on X.

“India engages in crude oil imports from more than 40 countries, allowing companies the full liberty to procure oil from various sources and regions based on economic considerations,” it further explained.

This clarification follows reports indicating that a vessel, Ping Shun, which is subject to US sanctions and was transporting Iranian crude, altered its route from Vadinar in Gujarat to Dongying, China.

Ship tracking information indicated that the tanker initially set its course for India but later changed its destination, leading to speculation that financial difficulties may have prompted this diversion.

Market analysts speculated that stricter payment terms from suppliers could have triggered the abrupt change in course.

Nonetheless, the government has dismissed these assumptions, asserting there are no payment barriers for importing crude oil from Iran and that such rumors are misleading.

The ministry also reassured stakeholders that, despite ongoing supply issues in the Middle East, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil needs for the upcoming months, including imports from Iran.

“Claims regarding vessel diversion overlook the operational realities of oil trading. Bills of Lading often list indicative discharge ports, and on-sea shipments can shift destinations during transit for trade optimization and operational flexibility,” the ministry explained.

In response to separate claims about LPG supply disruptions, the government reiterated that such reports are inaccurate.

It confirmed that an LPG carrier, Sea Bird, transporting approximately 44,000 metric tonnes of Iranian LPG, docked in Mangalore on April 2 and is currently unloading its cargo.