Sanctions imposed by US President Donald Trump forced Delhi to limit oil purchases from Russia. Now, however, the ongoing war between the combined forces of Israel and the United States and Iran has disrupted supplies from the Persian Gulf and made India once again interested in Russian raw material.
According to a Bloomberg report, two Russian oil cargoes, originally destined for East Asia, have already been redirected to India.
These are two tankers carrying a total of approximately 1.4 million barrels of Urals crude oil, which are scheduled to be unloaded in Indian ports in the next few days, according to observations by Kpler, a platform that analyzes global maritime transport.
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Another ship sailing under the flag of Sierra Leone, Suezmax Odune, loaded with 730,000. barrels of Russian oil reached Paradip on the eastern coast of India on Wednesday, although it is not known whether it has already been unloaded.
India depends on supplies from the Persian Gulf. Reserve for 25 days
India is largely dependent on oil imports from the Persian Gulf, and about 40-50 percent their oil, approximately 2.5-2.7 million barrels per day, is transported through the Strait of Hormuz from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
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This narrow sea passage also handles almost all of India's liquefied natural gas (LPG) imports, covering about 80-85 percent. demand, making disruption from the ongoing war particularly risky for India.
According to government sources cited by the Times of India, India has reserves of crude oil for 25 days and enough refined petroleum products, such as gasoline and diesel.
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With no signs of an end or easing in the ongoing crisis in the Persian Gulf since Saturday, where fighting between the US, Israel and Iran is ongoing, Delhi is looking for alternatives to meet its energy needs.
