Mauritius has signed agreements with the Indian government and state-run Indian Oil Corp to secure long-term supplies of petroleum products, the Mauritian government said on Thursday.
The agreements were signed during a visit to Mauritius by India’s Oil Minister Hardeep Puri, as the island nation seeks to strengthen fuel security amid its heavy reliance on imported energy.
The deal includes a government-to-government memorandum of understanding covering cooperation in oil and gas, alongside a sales and purchase agreement between Mauritius and Indian Oil.
Under the supply agreement, Mauritius will import key petroleum products from India, including petrol, diesel and aviation fuel.
The Mauritian government did not disclose the volumes to be supplied or the commercial and financial terms of the agreements.
The arrangements come as Mauritius faces heightened energy concerns following disruptions and uncertainty linked to the war involving Iran.
Mauritius is heavily dependent on imported fuel to meet domestic energy needs, making reliable access to petroleum products important for its economy and transport sector.
Puri said Mauritius was the first country outside South Asia to conclude such a supply agreement with an Indian public-sector oil company.
The agreements are expected to deepen energy cooperation between the two countries and provide Mauritius with a more secure source of imported fuel.
The deals also strengthen India’s role as a regional supplier of refined petroleum products as countries seek alternative and reliable energy sources amid global supply disruptions.