Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday denied that India was under any pressure to stop buying Russian oil.
“At the point of negotiation, whoever is supplying a particular grade, we will buy from them. The minister’s remarks come amid international scrutiny of India’s purchases of Russian crude, and Western efforts to curb Moscow’s oil revenues following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Indian refiners would purchase crude from suppliers offering the most competitive prices as the country prioritises energy security amid global market uncertainties, he said. “I have never felt any pressure,” Puri said during an interaction at the 29th Energy Technology and Innovation Meet which began here on Tuesday. Prices come down sometimes,” he said. Referring to the restrictions imposed on two Russian entities, Rosneft and Lukoil, Puri said buyers could source oil from other suppliers, including those in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
