Russia has begun importing gasoline from India, even though the fuel is produced primarily from Russian crude oil. This was reported by Glavkom, citing the Financial Times.
Russian oil returns as gasoline
According to the newspaper, the gasoline imported by Russia is refined at the Vadinar refinery in India. More than 90% of the crude processed there comes from Russia, while Rosneft owns a 49% stake in the refinery. As a result, Russia is effectively buying back fuel made from its own crude after it has been refined in India.
The Financial Times reports that a tanker carrying 42,000 tonnes of gasoline was loaded on June 18. Near the Egyptian coast, the cargo was transferred to another vessel bound for the Russian port of Vitino.
Why Russia needs imported gasoline
The imports are driven by a fuel shortage affecting at least two-thirds of Russia’s regions. Repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have reduced gasoline production to its lowest level in years, forcing authorities in several regions to introduce fuel purchase limits at filling stations.
Despite pressure from the United States, India remains one of the largest buyers of Russian crude oil. New Delhi has previously urged Washington not to tighten restrictions on Russian oil supplies, arguing that doing so could threaten India’s energy security.
Earlier reports also said that Russia’s three largest oil companies had asked Indian refineries to supply additional shipments of gasoline. Another tanker, Varg, loaded with fuel at the port of Vadinar, is also en route to Russia via the Suez Canal.
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