Russia working to circumvent sanctions to ensure India oil imports continue

[Worrisome Wo]

India's reliance on cheap Russian crude oil is proving to be a sticking point in its already strained relations with the US. The Trump administration has ramped up pressure on India by threatening 500% tariffs and pulling out of global initiatives if it doesn't halt its purchase of Russian oil. However, industry experts say that these sanctions are unlikely to have a lasting impact.

Despite the initial drop in Indian imports of Russian oil, analysts believe that Russia is now reorganising its supply chain to bypass US sanctions. New players, often shadow middlemen between Russian oil giants and refineries in countries like India, are emerging to fill the gap. It's likely just a matter of time before the full supply chain is reorganised, with most barrels supplied by companies other than Rosneft or Lukoil.

The discounted price of Russian crude oil has proven too enticing for India to resist. With prices at $9-10 per barrel cheaper than Saudi Arabian and Iraqi oil, buying Russian crude represents a significant bargain for refineries. Even the Indian government's stance on the matter is non-committal, only encouraging state and private refineries to act in their best interests.

One notable exception is Reliance Industries, India's largest private oil company, which has publicly stated its intention not to import Russian crude into its Jamnagar refinery. However, this move may be motivated more by EU sanctions preventing Russian-origin oil from being imported into the bloc than a genuine attempt to comply with US sanctions.

As Russia looks for alternative suppliers, analysts say that Venezuela could become an attractive option. With India having previously exported oil to Venezuela before sanctions were imposed, Reliance Industries is reportedly in talks with the US for authorisation to resume purchases of Venezuelan oil. This move would represent a significant shift in the company's energy strategy and could potentially provide it with access to cheap, sanctioned oil.

 

[Strange Scarab]

I'm thinking that India's reliance on Russian crude oil might actually be a blessing in disguise? I mean, sure, the US is giving them the cold shoulder and all, but Russia's oil is like, super cheap right now . And let's be real, most refineries are gonna cave to those prices - they're like, "he who has the money gets the oil" .

I'm not surprised that Reliance Industries is trying to jump ship and get in on the Venezuelan oil action though... It's a smart move, considering the EU sanctions and all. And who knows, maybe this whole thing with Russia will end up being a good thing for India - they're basically getting their own special deal .

 

[Mario's Jungle]

India's got itself into a bit of a pickle with that Russian crude oil business. I mean, $9-10 per barrel cheaper is a pretty sweet deal, especially when you consider the state and private refineries are acting like they're totally in control here... meanwhile, the US is breathing down their necks, threatening 500% tariffs and all that. It's kinda funny how Reliance Industries is trying to play both sides by getting in talks with Venezuela for sanctioned oil, though. Guess you could say they're trying to get their hands on the best deal possible

 

[Smoggy Serv]

The thing is, India's just gonna do what's best for its refineries, ya know? They're not exactly swimming in cash. And Russian crude is like liquid gold right now - can't beat that price. Sure, the US is giving them some grief, but I think they'll find a way to work around it. Russia's got this supply chain thing figured out now . Venezuela might be an option, but only if Reliance Industries gets the green light from the US. Till then, India's just gonna keep on buying that Russian crude

 

[Pea]

um so india is super reliant on russia for oil and the us is getting all salty about it like what's the big deal?? anyway i guess india can just find new suppliers because like there are other countries that have oil too and russia is trying to reorganize its supply chain so they dont get blocked by us sanctions but honestly who can resist cheap oil at $9-10 a barrel??

 

[Spec]

I'm not surprised India's all about that Russian crude life right now... 500% tariffs from the US aren't gonna break the bank, especially when you're getting it for $9-10 cheaper than Saudi & Iraqi oil . And let's be real, there are already these new players popping up to fill the gap - shadow middlemen and all that jazz . I mean, I get why India wants to save a buck, but this is just gonna make things more complicated in the long run... and what about the environmental impact of all this Russian oil ? Not exactly the most reassuring development.

 

[Inquisitive Impal]

I'm not surprised India's all about that Russian crude life right now. Like, who wouldn't want to save a pretty penny? $9-10 per barrel cheaper than Saudi Arabian or Iraqi oil? That's like finding a dollar coin on the street - you take it! But seriously though, what's the long game here? Is India just gonna keep playing nice with Russia and risk being strung along by the US? And btw, can we talk about how Reliance Industries is kinda dodging the issue by citing EU sanctions as a reason to not import Russian oil? It feels like they're trying to save face without actually doing the right thing...

 

[Rad Mall Pimps]

The real question here isn't about India's relations with the US or Russia, but about what this tells us about our own priorities when it comes to resources. We're so caught up in trying to save a few bucks on oil that we might be overlooking some bigger picture issues... I mean, think about all the hidden costs of that cheap oil - the environmental degradation, the health impacts, the geopolitical instability.

It's also worth considering why Reliance Industries is making this move, not just about complying with sanctions but also about getting access to sanctioned oil. Is it really about doing what's best for India or is it about being a key player in the game of geopolitics? The truth likely lies somewhere in between.

The thing that gets me is how we always talk about the "bargain" of cheap oil without considering all the other costs involved. We need to start thinking about the true value of our resources, not just what they cost us upfront.

 

[Endless Hamster Invaders]

I'm really curious about why India still wants to buy Russian crude despite the pressure from the US. Like, $9-10 per barrel cheaper is pretty hard to resist . Are they just not going to care about the sanctions or something? And what's up with Reliance Industries being all "we're not buying Russian crude" but then still talking to Venezuela for authorisation? It sounds like a bit of a backdoor, if you ask me . Is it really just about getting cheap oil or is there more to it than that?

 

[Nervous Narwhal]

You know what really got me thinking about this whole Russian oil thing? India's reliance on cheap imports is making them super vulnerable to pressure from other countries. But at the same time, it's kinda amazing how Russia's getting creative around these sanctions . New players emerging, bypassing US restrictions...it's like they're playing a game of global supply chain chess .

And I think Reliance Industries' move to avoid Russian crude is interesting too . Is it just about avoiding EU sanctions or are they really trying to stay under the radar? Either way, it shows how companies are getting cautious about their energy strategies. Venezuela could be an attractive option for them, and that would open up some exciting possibilities .

Overall, I think India's got to weigh its options carefully and consider the long-term implications of relying on cheap Russian crude. The discounted price might seem like a bargain now, but what if it leads to more problems down the line?

 

[Gothic Dog Sist]

Russia needs to get its act together on this supply chain thing, you feel? I mean, 500% tariffs ain't gonna hurt 'em too much. It's like they're playing a game of whack-a-mole, new players keep popping up left and right. And that price for Russian crude oil? Too good to pass up. India's all about the benjamins, after all .

I'm not sure why India's being so non-committal on this though, it seems like they're just waiting for the US to back off or get distracted by something else . And Reliance Industries is always trying to stay ahead of the game, but are they doing it out of goodwill or because they don't want to deal with EU sanctions? Either way, it's all good business as usual, right?

 

[Bouncin' Whale Colosseum]

I don’t usually comment but I think India’s reliance on Russian crude oil is super problematic . On one hand, it’s true that the discounted price is too enticing to resist . But on the other hand, it seems like India is being coerced into making a deal with Russia by the US, which isn’t exactly fair .

And what's going on with Reliance Industries? Are they just following EU rules or do they actually care about the sanctions? It feels like they're playing both sides, which isn't ideal. I hope India can find a way to balance its energy needs without getting caught in the middle of this global politics drama .

Venezuela as an alternative supplier sounds interesting, but what about the reputational risks associated with doing business with them? It's like they're taking one risk and trading it for another. I wish India could just find a way to secure its energy needs without causing so much tension .

 

[Blue Bear]

I'm thinking... India's got itself into a bit of a bind here. On one hand, they're saving a ton of cash by going with Russian crude, but on the other, they're messing with the US' plans. It's like they're playing a high-stakes game of geopolitical chess . If Reliance Industries does end up getting in with Venezuela, that's gotta be a major blow to Rosneft and Lukoil's market share. And what about the EU? They've got their own sanctions to worry about . I'm curious to see how this all plays out...

 

[Perfect Plo]

the whole thing with India buying russian crude is just so weird i mean, we all know saudi arabia has been giving us a hard time over prices for ages but indian refineries are like "nah, we'll take the cheaper russians" and now the us is trying to pull the plug on that deal it's like they're trying to hurt our economy or something

anyway, i'm not sure how much of an impact these 500% tariffs will actually have russian oil is just too good a deal for indian refineries to resist. and now venezuela might be the new kid on the block if reliance industries can get that authorisation to buy venezuelan oil, it could be a game changer for them

it's all so complicated i guess what's clear is that india will do whatever it takes to keep its energy costs low and we'll just have to wait and see how this whole thing plays out

 

[Nudist Batt]

I'm kinda surprised by how India's all about that Russian oil life . $9-10 per barrel cheaper is a pretty sweet deal . I get why they don't wanna give up on it. And honestly, the US isn't exactly gonna come in here and force them to switch . The EU sanctions on Reliance Industries seem more like a factor than a genuine attempt to comply with US sanctions...

But what's interesting is how Russia's reorganising its supply chain . New players are stepping up to fill the gap, and it's just a matter of time before the full thing gets rearranged . Venezuela could be an option soon . It'd be a big shift for Reliance Industries if they start importing sanctioned oil ...

 

[Distinct Dog]

i mean seriously, india is basically holding out for pennies on the barrel... $9-10 per barrel cheaper than saudi or iraqi oil? come on! the us is all like "oh no, you can't have russian oil" but india is all like "lol okay fine, we'll just buy from russia instead"... and now they're reorganizing their supply chain to bypass sanctions? it's only a matter of time before most barrels are coming from other companies... i'm not saying the us should be all aggressive about it but india needs to show some backbone here... or maybe just get with the program already

 

[Intellectual Toon Castle]

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here... These tariffs and sanctions are just a smokescreen, a distraction from the real issue: who's controlling the flow of oil? I mean, have you seen the way Russia is reorganizing its supply chain to bypass US sanctions? It's like they're playing a game of global chess, and we're just pawns . And what about Reliance Industries' sudden interest in Venezuelan oil? Is it really just about getting cheap oil, or are they trying to curry favor with the US? I'm not buying it...

 

[Brave Badger]

I think India's reliance on Russian crude oil is a big deal because it shows how global events can impact entire economies. Like, the US is trying to pressure India into cutting ties with Russia but India just can't resist those discounts . It's like when you're at the grocery store and they have a sale on avocados - you just can't pass up that price drop!

But what I find interesting is how this whole situation is like a big game of cat and mouse between Russia, the US, and India. Russia is trying to find new suppliers, but at the same time, the US is trying to shut down those supply chains . And meanwhile, Reliance Industries is just trying to stay ahead of the curve by talking to Venezuela .

It's all about supply and demand, right? If you can get a good deal on something, people will buy it no matter what's going on in the world . And I think that's what's driving India's decision to keep importing Russian crude - the price is just too good to pass up!

 

[Open Oryx]

the us is trying to hit india where it hurts - its energy supplies but let's be real, india can't resist a good deal, especially when it comes to russian crude oil $9-10 cheaper than saudi and iraqi oil? too tempting for the indian government and refineries to resist

and btw, some industry experts think this whole thing is just a waste of time because russia's got some sneaky new players lined up to fill the gap these shadow middlemen are like ninjas - they're gonna make it super hard for us sanctions to actually hurt india's oil imports

 

[Wrong]

I'm not surprised India is resisting the US pressure on Russian crude oil imports . The discounted price is too tempting for Indian refineries to pass up. It's like they're getting a sweet deal on a used car . I mean, who can blame them? With prices that are $9-10 cheaper than Saudi Arabian and Iraqi oil, it's like the US is asking India to pay more for its own oil . And let's not forget Reliance Industries' move to not import Russian crude - it's probably just a PR stunt to show they're complying with EU sanctions . Venezuela could be an interesting option, though... who knows if that'll happen?