India’s largest refining company, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), is preparing to resume purchases of Russian crude oil after a brief pause triggered by heightened Western sanctions and geopolitical pressure, according to a Reuters report. The move underscores India’s continued balancing act between safeguarding its energy security and navigating mounting diplomatic pressure from the United States and its allies over trade with Moscow.

Reliance, which operates the world’s largest refining complex at Jamnagar in the western state of Gujarat, is expected to receive Russian oil cargoes in February and March. The supplies will reportedly be sourced from non-sanctioned entities, allowing the company to remain formally compliant with international restrictions while maintaining access to competitively priced crude.

The resumption comes after a temporary slowdown in purchases late last year, when several Indian refiners reassessed their exposure to Russian oil following a tightening of sanctions by both the United States and the European Union. Those sanctions aim to curtail Russia’s energy revenues amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, now entering its fourth year.

Reliance’s brief pause was widely viewed in the market as a tactical adjustment rather than a fundamental shift in policy. In December, the company received Russian crude after securing a one-month concession from the US government. That waiver followed a November 21 deadline for companies to wind down dealings with sanctioned Russian producer Rosneft.

By sourcing oil from non-sanctioned sellers, Reliance appears to have found a workaround that preserves supply continuity without triggering direct penalties. Industry........

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