SEATTLE (Oil Monster): India has instructed oil refiners to submit weekly disclosures of crude oil purchases from Russia and the United States, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at providing the Prime Minister’s Office with verified data for ongoing trade negotiations with Washington.
The mandate, issued through the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), replaces third-party estimates with official figures, reducing diplomatic friction over energy sourcing. Major refiners, including Reliance Industries and Indian Oil Corporation, are required to report detailed import data, which will remain confidential for internal and diplomatic purposes.
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The move comes as Russian crude imports are expected to drop below one million barrels per day (mmbbl/d), down from a June peak of two million mmbbl/d, while US crude imports remain low at 6.6% of India’s total. The shift signals India’s strategy to diversify energy procurement and rebalance its energy portfolio, potentially easing US-imposed tariffs on Indian goods.
Officials say the weekly tracking will support energy diplomacy, demonstrate transparency in crude oil flows, and strengthen India’s negotiating position in broader US-India trade talks, which focus increasingly on energy imports and natural gas procurement to reduce the bilateral trade deficit.
