Mauritius secures five-year fuel supply deal with India amid geopolitical shifts
Mauritius has finalized agreements with India for a five-year supply of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, marine gas oil, and aviation fuel. These agreements, between the Mauritian and Indian governments, and between the State Trading Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation, are seen as a strategic move to ensure energy security. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam stated that the previous government had abandoned a long-standing relationship with Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited in favor of a free market system and international tenders, which he criticized for involving agents and high commissions. This shift to an intermediary-based import system proved vulnerable to geopolitical crises and price volatility. Ramgoolam initiated discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revert to a government-to-government mechanism, aiming to treat fuel as a national security element rather than just a market commodity. Although Mangalore Refinery initially declined due to the previous agreement's cancellation, Indian Oil Corporation was proposed as an alternative and accepted. This new arrangement with Indian Oil Corporation is expected to protect Mauritius's reserves from speculation and Middle Eastern instability, strengthening the economy's resilience. Indian Minister of Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri personally visited Port Louis to finalize the agreement, emphasizing that it represents a statement of trust and dependability between the two nations. He
