Gulf Suppliers Cut Crude Sales to Russian-Backed Indian Refiner
India’s Nayara Energy has cut refinery operations to 70-80% capacity after Saudi Aramco and Iraq’s state oil company SOMO suspended crude supplies following European Union sanctions targeting the Russian-backed facility. The 400,000 barrel-per-day Vadinar refinery, majority-owned by Rosneft, has lost its traditional 3 million barrels monthly from Gulf suppliers and now relies entirely on Russian crude.
The supply halt follows EU sanctions imposed in July as part of the bloc’s 18th sanctions package against Russian energy assets. Saudi Aramco and SOMO suspended deliveries to avoid sanctions exposure, severing established commercial relationships with one of India’s largest private refiners.
The final Saudi shipment of Arab Light crude arrived July 18 aboard the VLCC Georgios, while th...