Shashi Tharoor backs India's stand on Iran oil export cut

New Delhi, May 16 (ANI): Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday backed India's decision to cut imports of Iranian crude oil by 11 percent to 15.5 million tonnes in 2012/13.

However, Tharoor urged the Government to understand the petrol and energy requirements of the country before taking a final decision.

"On the issue of Iran India has a particular position, that we are their neighbours and we need the oil. Our country now-a-days is importing more than eighty percent of the energy needs; so we cannot make such sanctions easily but we also realize that the international community is taking a position saying that Iran's conduct vis-?-vis nuclear energy is not appropriate," Tharoor told the media.

"We have to co-operate with the international community. We cannot live in isolation. We also need to understand the petrol and energy requirements of our country and take a feasible decision," he added.

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas RPN Singh on Tuesday said that India imported 17.44 million tonnes of oil in 2011/12, down 5.7 percent from the year earlier.

"Total crude oil imported from Iran by Indian companies during 2010-11 and 2011-12 is 18.50 million tonnes and 17.44 million tonnes, respectively. The target fixed for import of crude oil from Iran for 2012-13 is about 15.5 million tonnes," Singh said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Singh said the quantum of crude oil imported by Indian refineries from various sources is decided by them on the basis of technical, commercial and other considerations.

"To reduce its dependence on any particular region of the world, India has been consciously trying to diversify its sources of crude oil imports to strengthen the country's energy security," he added. (ANI)