India says higher Russian oil imports are part of long-term energy security strategy

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India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has defended the country's rising imports of Russian crude oil, stating that the increase is part of a long-term strategy to diversify supply sources and safeguard energy security amid disruptions in West Asia.

Responding to an editorial published by The Hindu, the ministry said the rise in Russian oil imports followed the disruption of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz after military strikes on Iran in late February 2026. According to the ministry, the closure affected nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas flows, while around 45-50 per cent of India's crude oil imports normally pass through the strategic waterway.

The ministry said India increased the share of crude sourced from outside the Strait of Hormuz from 55 per cent to 70 per cent within weeks of the disruption. It added that Russia's share of India's crude imports exceeded 40 per cent in May 2026, while accounting for more than half of total imports in June, with supplies reaching around 2.6 million barrels per day.

According to the ministry, the increase in Russian imports was part of a planned response to offset reduced supplies from West Asia rather than a standalone policy decision.

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The ministry also highlighted India's diplomatic engagement with Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which helped secure alternative crude oil and LPG supplies during the crisis. It added that direct engagement with Iran enabled 12 Indian LPG vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz without paying tolls or transit charges.

To further strengthen energy security, India has expanded its crude sourcing network from 27 countries a decade ago to more than 41 countries by 2026. Since the regional conflict began, the country has started importing crude from Iran, Chad, Algeria, Togo and Egypt, while significantly increasing purchases from Venezuela, Brazil, Angola, Oman, Gabon and South Sudan.

The ministry said Russian crude imports increased primarily to compensate for supply disruptions from West Asia and ensure that no single event threatened India's energy security. It also noted that ship-to-ship transfer operations through the Red Sea via Yanbu and Fujairah had been used to reduce exposure to sanctions and supply bottlenecks.

Responding to concerns over growing imports from Venezuela, the ministry said India's engagement with the country had begun well before the Hormuz disruption and formed part of a wider strategy to diversify energy partnerships. It noted that Venezuela's acting President had visited India during India Energy Week, months before the crisis, to discuss energy cooperation.

Source: The Hindu 

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