Reliance Industries may be deviating from its current reliance on Russian oil amid the looming threat of secondary sanctions from the US and NATO. The revelation came even as the European Union unveiled new punitive measures targeting the Russian energy sector this month — including restrictions on the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat.
According to a Bloomberg report, the Mukesh Ambani-led company bought Abu Dhabi’s Murban crude in a rare purchase late last week. The private refiner isn’t a regular buyer of the UAE grade — a premium crude that tends to be costlier than its regular appetite of Russian Urals and heavier Middle Eastern varieties.
Indian oil imports from Russia rose marginally during the first half of 2025 — with nearly 35% of overall supplies coming from the country. Private refiners such as Reliance Industries Ltd and Nayara Energy made up approximately half of the purchases from Moscow.
US President Donald Trump and NATO chief Mark Rutte have repeatedly warned about imposition of 100% secondary sanctions in recent weeks amid efforts to end the Ukraine war. The Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly insisted that securing energy needs was an “overriding priority” for the country — guided by available offers and the “prevailing global circumstances”. Meanwhile, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said last week that he was “not worried at all” and assured that India would secure alternative alternatives if necessary.
This story is being updated with additional details…