Sanctions against Russia: India resumes receiving oil cargo in RF tankers after brief pause
Archive photo: India resumes accepting Russian tankers after a brief pause (Getty Images)
Sovcomflot's sub-sanctioned vessel discharged fuel oil in a port in western India. The country resumes accepting Russian tankers after a brief pause, Reuters informs.
The vessel SCF Baltica is transporting 90,000 tons of fuel oil for the operator of the world's largest oil refining complex in Jamnagar, Reliance Industries. The sources assure that the vessel will leave the port on Friday after full unloading.
It is noted that Indian oil refineries, including Reliance, began to fear accepting cargoes from vessels of Sovcomflot after the United States imposed sanctions on the Russian shipping giant on February 23.
However, during a visit to India earlier this month, US officials noted that Washington seeks stable global oil supplies and did not ask India to reduce its import of Russian oil. Another tanker, the Vladimir Tikhonov, is expected to arrive in India next week with Russian oil.
Indian company Reliance primarily buys Russian oil but also imports fuel oil for processing at its coking unit to produce refined fuel. Sources indicate that new Indian oil refineries plan to accept Russian oil cargoes loaded on Sovcomflot vessels.
Sanctions against the Russian oil sector
Western countries have imposed a series of restrictions, including price ceilings on oil, against Russia to reduce its income. However, the Kremlin continues to circumvent the restrictions by selling oil and oil products to India.
Recently, Bloomberg reported that Russia has begun selling Urals crude at $75 per barrel. This is a quarter higher than the price ceiling for oil.
And yesterday it became known that India has granted maritime insurance permission to four Russian firms, allowing the Kremlin to be less dependent on services from Western companies.
