Fresh US sanctions on Russian oil unlikely to have immediate impact on India
Live MintNew Delhi: US’s fresh sanctions on two Russian oil producers along with tankers are unlikely to have an immediate impact on India for about the next two months as the crude required for this period has already loaded on vessels and is in transit, a top government official said. Strategic oil sourcing Russia has emerged as the top supplier of oil to India in the past three years as it offered crude at discounted prices after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Noting that India would not deal with the sanctioned entities, the official noted that while one of the companies does not supply oil to India, the other, although supplies a significant amount, it won’t have any major impact India's availability of crude. India, imports about 85% of its needs, and despite initial pressure from the US and European countries in 2022, it has been sourcing oil from Russia and has said that it would continue buying oil from the cheapest available sources to meet its growing demand and achieve energy security.