India’s Largest Refinery Quietly Restarts Russian Oil Imports After US Sanctions

Tankers carrying nearly 2.2 million barrels of Russia’s Urals crude are currently en route to India’s largest oil refinery, signaling a renewed flow of Russian energy supplies to the country despite tightened US sanctions, according to Bloomberg on January 2.

The shipments are headed to the massive Jamnagar refining complex operated by Reliance Industries on India’s western coast and are expected to arrive later this month, based on vessel-tracking data analyzed by Kpler.

Bloomberg reports that Reliance has resumed purchases of Russian crude after briefly pausing imports following new US sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump on major Russian oil producers.

The refinery had halted Russian supplies after Washington blacklisted key firms, including Rosneft and Lukoil, before turning to alternative sources.

According to the report, the incoming Urals crude will be refined primarily for domestic consumption, rather than for export markets—an important distinction as India balances energy security concerns with growing geopolitical pressure.

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Prior to the sanctions, Rosneft was Reliance’s largest Russian supplier, supported by a long-term agreement for deliveries of up to 500,000 barrels per day. While that arrangement was disrupted by US measures, the latest shipments suggest Russian oil is finding its way back into India’s energy mix through spot cargoes.

Earlier, reports emerged that India’s Reliance Industries resumed purchases of discounted Russian crude oil after a brief pause triggered by US sanctions, sourcing oil from non-sanctioned suppliers and routing it to its domestic-focused refinery in Gujarat.

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