Reliance Eyes Diversifying Oil Amid EU Sanctions
OIL & GAS

Reliance Eyes Diversifying Oil Amid EU Sanctions

India’s Reliance Industries Ltd. is facing fresh scrutiny over its oil procurement strategy following new European Union restrictions on diesel produced from Russian crude. The private refiner, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, made a rare purchase of Abu Dhabi’s premium Murban crude late last week, just after the EU’s latest sanctions package was announced. Traders noted that Reliance typically avoids the costlier UAE grade, favouring discounted Russian Urals and heavier Middle Eastern varieties.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Reliance has begun exploring alternative crude sources beyond Russia, which has been its largest oil supplier this year. The individuals, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the company appears to be gradually adjusting its procurement mix in response to evolving geopolitical risks.
Ship-tracking data from Kpler shows that Russian oil accounted for nearly 50 per cent of Reliance’s crude imports so far in 2025, while about 20 per cent of its refined fuel exports were shipped to Europe. The EU’s new restrictions, effective from 21 January next year, aim to curb the indirect sale of Russian-origin fuel to European markets—placing Reliance under closer regulatory observation.
Reliance, along with other Indian refiners, has been a major beneficiary of discounted Russian crude following the 2022 Ukraine conflict, which allowed Indian firms to maximise margins by exporting diesel to Western countries. However, with mounting regulatory pressure, traders believe Reliance may be testing the waters with alternatives from the Middle East, though it remains uncertain how it plans to replace up to 600,000 barrels per day of Russian crude—and at what price.
Meanwhile, India has expressed concern over the EU’s widening sanctions. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri called for a “balanced” approach regarding secondary restrictions on Russian oil and gas trade during remarks on Tuesday.

India’s Reliance Industries Ltd. is facing fresh scrutiny over its oil procurement strategy following new European Union restrictions on diesel produced from Russian crude. The private refiner, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, made a rare purchase of Abu Dhabi’s premium Murban crude late last week, just after the EU’s latest sanctions package was announced. Traders noted that Reliance typically avoids the costlier UAE grade, favouring discounted Russian Urals and heavier Middle Eastern varieties.According to sources familiar with the matter, Reliance has begun exploring alternative crude sources beyond Russia, which has been its largest oil supplier this year. The individuals, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the company appears to be gradually adjusting its procurement mix in response to evolving geopolitical risks.Ship-tracking data from Kpler shows that Russian oil accounted for nearly 50 per cent of Reliance’s crude imports so far in 2025, while about 20 per cent of its refined fuel exports were shipped to Europe. The EU’s new restrictions, effective from 21 January next year, aim to curb the indirect sale of Russian-origin fuel to European markets—placing Reliance under closer regulatory observation.Reliance, along with other Indian refiners, has been a major beneficiary of discounted Russian crude following the 2022 Ukraine conflict, which allowed Indian firms to maximise margins by exporting diesel to Western countries. However, with mounting regulatory pressure, traders believe Reliance may be testing the waters with alternatives from the Middle East, though it remains uncertain how it plans to replace up to 600,000 barrels per day of Russian crude—and at what price.Meanwhile, India has expressed concern over the EU’s widening sanctions. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri called for a “balanced” approach regarding secondary restrictions on Russian oil and gas trade during remarks on Tuesday. 

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

TBO Tek Q2 Profit Climbs 12%, Revenue Surges 26% YoY

TBO Tek Limited one of the world’s largest travel distribution platforms, reported a solid performance for Q2 FY26 with a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to Rs 5.68 billion, reflecting broad-based growth and improving profitability.The company recorded a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of Rs 8,901 crore, up 12 per cent YoY, driven by strong performance across Europe, MEA, and APAC regions. Adjusted EBITDA before acquisition-related costs stood at Rs 1.04 billion, up 16 per cent YoY, translating into an 18.32 per cent margin compared to 16.56 per cent in Q1 FY26. Profit after tax r..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Northern Graphite, Rain Carbon Secure R&D Grant for Greener Battery Materials

Northern Graphite Corporation and Rain Carbon Canada Inc, a subsidiary of Rain Carbon Inc, have jointly received up to C$860,000 (€530,000) in funding under the Canada–Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme to develop sustainable battery anode materials.The two-year, C$2.2 million project aims to transform natural graphite processing by-products into high-performance, battery-grade anode material (BAM). Supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Programme (NRC IRAP) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs a..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Antony Waste Q2 Revenue Jumps 16%; Subsidiary Wins Rs 3,200 Cr WtE Projects

Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited (AWHCL), a leading player in India’s municipal solid waste management sector, announced a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in total operating revenue to Rs 2.33 billion for Q2 FY26. The growth was driven by higher waste volumes, escalated contracts, and strong operational execution.EBITDA rose 18 per cent to Rs 570 million, with margins steady at 21.6 per cent, while profit after tax stood at Rs 173 million, up 13 per cent YoY. Revenue from Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Transportation (MSW C&T) reached Rs 1.605 billion, and MSW Processing re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement