The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Tuesday, 16 June categorically denied media reports claiming that India is actively pursuing a deep-sea energy pipeline linking Gujarat to Oman and other Gulf countries, stating that no such proposal is under consideration at any level within the ministry. The clarification directly addresses speculation around the so-called Middle East-India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP).

What the Government Said

In an official statement, the Petroleum Ministry said it had noticed a series of media reports suggesting that the Government of India is actively pursuing the MEIDP project. “The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas wishes to categorically clarify that no such proposal is currently under consideration by this Ministry. There are no active discussions or negotiations with Oman or any other Gulf countries on this project at any level in this Ministry,” the statement read.

The ministry added: “This clarification is issued to put all speculation in this regard to rest.”

LNG Shipment Safely Transits Strait of Hormuz

Separately, the Malta-flagged LNG carrier DISHA, managed by a Shipping Corporation of India-led consortium, safely transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday carrying 62,370 metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas bound for Dahej, Gujarat. The vessel is expected to arrive in India on 18 June.

The government noted it remains in continuous coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions abroad, shipping companies, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers. Port operations across India remain normal, with no congestion reported.

Seafarer Safety Advisory Amid Middle East Tensions

The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has advised shipping companies and maritime recruitment and placement agencies to restrict deployment of Indian seafarers in Middle East conflict zones until further orders. The advisory follows the deaths of three Indian seafarers aboard MT Settebello, who were killed after a US military strike on the commercial vessel off the Oman coast.

In a separate circular, the DGS directed masters of vessels operating in or transiting the Gulf region — including the Strait of Hormuz and adjoining waters — to maintain heightened security awareness, monitor navigational warnings and advisories from security agencies, and implement all applicable ship security measures and company security procedures.

Context and Wider Significance

The denial comes amid elevated geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have intensified scrutiny of India’s energy supply chains and prompted speculation about long-term infrastructure alternatives to seaborne routes. The MEIDP concept — a subsea pipeline that would theoretically reduce India’s dependence on LNG tanker routes through the volatile Strait of Hormuz — has periodically surfaced in policy discussions over the years but has never advanced to a formal proposal stage, according to available records.

With three Indian seafarers already killed in the region and an active DGS advisory restricting new deployments, the government faces mounting pressure to articulate a coherent maritime security posture for the Gulf even as it distances itself from the pipeline reports.