One of India’s biggest private refiners has stopped buying Russian crude, just a day after Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong publicly urged New Delhi to ensure its supply chains were not indirectly supporting Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Reliance Industries (RIL), India’s largest importer of Russian oil, confirmed it has ceased shipments of Russian-origin crude to its export-focused Jamnagar refinery.
Wong, in India for high-level talks, has pressed concerns about Russian fuel entering Australia after being refined in third countries.
In a statement widely reported in Indian media, RIL said it halted Russian crude at its Special Economic Zone refinery from Nov. 20 to comply early with European Union restrictions.
“From 1 December, all product exports from the SEZ refinery will be obtained from non-Russian crude oil,” the company said in a statement published in The Indian Express, adding that the transition was completed ahead of schedule.
Reliance operates the world’s largest refining complex and accounts for roughly half of all Russian crude arriving in India.
Wong Welcomes Shift
Wong immediately praised the move, framing it as consistent with Australia’s sanctions regime and moral stance on Ukraine.
“Australia has imposed very strict sanctions and other trade measures … to restrict the import, purchase and transport of oil coming from, or that originated in Russia,” she said.
“We think the war in Ukraine is both illegal and immoral and contrary to global interests and our national interests.”
She stressed that Australians expect companies to ensure their supply chains do not “inadvertently” support Russia’s invasion.
“So in that context, can I acknowledge the positive engagement with Reliance Industries and acknowledge the steps they have announced,” she said.
Reliance’s announcement also follows a startling analysis earlier this year showing Australia had unintentionally become a major indirect buyer of Russian-origin fuel—importing more than $3.7 billion worth refined in India and Turkey, despite pledging $1.5 billion in aid to Ukraine.
