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The statement came from Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, during a media briefing. Her remarks came just two days after the expiry of the latest US waiver on Russian oil purchases and on the same day, Washington announced another temporary 30-day licence permitting countries to access Russian crude currently stranded at sea.
“We have been purchasing from Russia earlier, before the waiver, during the waiver, and now also,” Sharma said while addressing reporters. She emphasised that India’s oil marketing companies would continue to make procurement decisions based on “commercial sense” and market viability rather than political considerations.
Sharma also asserted that India faced no shortage of crude supplies despite rising tensions in West Asia. “Waiver or no waiver, it will not affect our supplies, and all efforts have been taken to that effect,” she said.
The latest American licence was announced by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said the 30-day extension was aimed at stabilising physical crude markets and helping energy-vulnerable nations temporarily access Russian oil stranded at sea. Bessent also claimed the move would reduce China’s ability to stockpile discounted Russian crude supplies.
West Asia Crisis Has Changed India’s Energy Calculations
India’s firm position comes against the backdrop of rapidly escalating instability in West Asia. Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz for most commercial shipping, triggering fears of a major disruption in global oil supplies. Nearly 20% of the world’s petroleum trade passes through the narrow maritime chokepoint connecting the Gulf to the Arabian Sea.
The crisis has sharply increased concerns over fuel inflation and supply disruptions across global markets. For India, which imports nearly 80% to 85% of its oil and gas requirements, the stakes are particularly high.
Indian refiners have therefore accelerated purchases of Russian crude in recent weeks. According to data from maritime analytics firm Kpler, India’s imports of Russian oil surged to 1.96 million barrels per day by May 15, compared to 1.57 million barrels per day in April. The increase reflects efforts by Indian refiners to secure stable and discounted supplies as uncertainty grows across West Asian energy routes.
The United States had first granted Indian refiners a 30-day waiver on March 5, allowing purchases of Russian oil stranded at sea amid the conflict in West Asia. A week later, Washington extended a similar 30-day licence to other countries for Russian crude loaded before March 11. The waiver was then extended until May 16 before expiring.
Despite those temporary exemptions, India’s latest messaging indicates that New Delhi’s energy strategy is no longer dependent on periodic waivers from Washington.
Trump’s Tariff Pressure Failed to Alter India’s Position
Russian oil has remained one of the most contentious issues in India-US ties since the Ukraine war intensified. Last year, the administration of Donald Trump imposed an additional punitive tariff on India over its continued purchase of Russian crude, taking the effective tariff burden on Indian imports to 50%.
On February 7, however, Trump signed an executive order removing the additional 25% punitive levy after both countries moved towards an interim trade framework. The rollback reduced the effective US tariff rate on Indian imports to 18%.
Despite months of pressure, India has shown little willingness to reduce dependence on Russian crude. Instead, New Delhi appears increasingly committed to protecting domestic economic interests while maintaining strategic flexibility in an increasingly polarised global order.
Norway Signals Readiness to Supply India
As global energy dynamics continue to shift, Norway has also indicated its willingness to strengthen energy cooperation with India. Norwegian Ambassador to India May-Elin Stener said Oslo understood the energy needs of the world’s fastest-growing major economy and was prepared to discuss future supplies with New Delhi.
Norwegian government figures show the country exported 56.6 million barrels of oil in March, a 27.3% increase from the same period last year. Norway also exported 10.2 billion standard cubic metres of natural gas during the same period, although that figure was marginally lower year-on-year.
For now, however, India’s position remains firm and unambiguous. Russian crude will continue flowing into Indian refineries as long as it remains economically beneficial, strategically reliable, and essential for insulating the country from an increasingly volatile global energy market.
