Reuters: Russia turns to India for seaborne gasoline imports

Russia has begun importing gasoline by sea from India, according to two industry sources cited by Reuters on July 1, as it seeks to ease fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian strikes on its energy infrastructure.

The shortages are being reported across Russia’s 11 time zones, with rationing in some areas, long queues at petrol stations, and record-high gasoline prices.

On June 30, the Kremlin stated that it is engaging with foreign partners and negotiating fuel imports at acceptable prices.

Russia’s energy ministry and India’s oil ministry did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

One industry source said that at least 60,000 metric tons of gasoline have already been shipped from India to Russia. Another source reported that two tankers, each carrying between 30,000 and 40,000 tons, have been dispatched.

A third source said Russia is planning to import around 400,000 tons of gasoline per month from several countries, including Belarus, which has already been supplying fuel.

Domestic gasoline consumption in Russia is estimated at no less than 110,000 tons per day during the summer peak demand period.

It remains unclear which Indian refinery is supplying the fuel.

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin acknowledged in a meeting with senior officials that Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries had contributed to regional fuel shortages, while stressing that the situation was being managed.

Belarus has also significantly increased its fuel deliveries to Russia, nearly tripling gasoline shipments by rail to over 70,000 tons in the first half of June compared to the previous month, according to Reuters calculations and industry sources.

By Jeyhun Aghazada