PM Modi’s Saudi Arabia visit will boost India’s energy security
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the world’s largest oil producer Saudi Arabia will help the country to ensure its energy security. Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest crude oil producer with an average production of 10 million barrels a day, almost 10% of the global output. It is also one of the two largest suppliers of crude to India, the other being Iraq. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will have bilateral meetings with the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. India and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed traditionally close and friendly relations. Saudi Arabia has been one of the largest and reliable suppliers of India’s energy needs, said Prime Minister Modi in a statement.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit comes on the heels of a surprise coordinated drone attack on the country’s oil facilities that crippled nearly 10% of its oil production facility, raising the concerns of supply disruptions for an energy-starved country like India. However, Saudis were quick to restore the oil production to the pre-attack level in a matter of weeks. Saudi authorities had also assured the Indian government of a steady supply despite the attack on Aramco refinery.
