India’s Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the government is not concerned about sanctions on Russian crude and will continue purchasing it, according to broadcast reporting.
Puri asserted that India’s energy policy is not driven by external pressure, reaffirming a stance the country has maintained amid geopolitical tensions affecting global oil markets. India has increased imports of Russian crude in periods when discounted barrels were available on world markets.
Energy security remains a priority for India, which depends heavily on imported petroleum to fuel transport, industry, and power generation. Officials have repeatedly defended diversified sourcing and market-based purchasing decisions.
Western sanctions targeting Russian energy exports produced varied global responses, with some nations reducing purchases while others maintained or expanded trade relationships. Puri’s remarks underscore India’s emphasis on sovereign energy choices over alignment with particular sanction regimes.
Indian refiners continue processing imported crude into fuels for domestic consumption and export, making ministerial guidance on procurement policy closely watched by industry participants. The statement arrives amid ongoing diplomatic discussion about how energy trade intersects with foreign policy alignments.
Puri’s comments reinforce New Delhi’s argument that securing affordable fuel for a large importing economy takes precedence over external demands to halt purchases from particular suppliers.
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Sources:
https://www.newsonair.gov.in/bulletins-detail/evening-news-452