Reliance Industries on Thursday announced that it stopped importing Russian oil for processing at its export-only refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat from November 20. The company, according to PTI, said that from December 1, all exports from its only-for-exports facility will be produced exclusively from non-Russian oil.Reliance, India’s largest buyer of Russian crude, processes the oil at its Jamnagar complex, which has an SEZ refinery that exports to markets like the EU and the US, and another older refinery that serves the domestic market.“We have stopped importing Russian crude oil into our SEZ refinery with effect from November 20,” a company spokesperson told PTI. “The transition has been completed ahead of schedule to ensure full compliance with product-import restrictions coming into force in January 2026,” the RIL spokesperson further added.The announcement comes just a day before the US sanctions on two Russian oil entities: Rosneft and Lukoil, come into effect. Back in October, the US department of treasury had imposed sanctions on the two firms, citing, “a result of Russia’s lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.” Additionally, the EU also barred imports of the fuel made from Russian crude, from January 2026.After the sanctions were rolled out, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) said that it would follow all rules governing the movement of refined products into Europe.“We have noted the recent restrictions announced by the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States on crude oil imports from Russia and export of refined products to Europe. Reliance is currently assessing the implications, including the new compliance requirements. We will comply with the EU’s guidelines on the import of refined products into Europe,” RIL spokesperson said.“Whenever there is any guidance from the Indian Government in this respect, as always, we will be complying fully. Reliance will address these conditions while maintaining the relationships with its suppliers,” the spokesperson further added.Reliance, which runs the world’s biggest single-location refinery at Jamnagar in Gujarat, has been purchasing nearly half of the 1.7–1.8 million barrels per day of discounted Russian crude sent to India. The company converts this crude into products such as petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel, with a substantial portion exported to regions like Europe and the United States at market rates, helping the firm secure strong refining margins.Reliance explained that crude supplied to its SEZ refinery is handled through a separate, dedicated system. The company said it is honoring “all pre-committed liftings of Russian crude oil as of October 22, 2025, are being honored, considering all transport arrangements were already in place.” It added that the final shipment under these commitments was loaded on 12 November.“Any (Russian) cargoes arriving on or after November 20 will be received and processed at our refinery in the domestic tariff area (DTA),” it said, adding that it expects to complete all operational activities related to these transactions “in a compliant way.”Reliance has a long-term arrangement with Rosneft to buy up to 5,00,000 barrels of crude per day for 25 years, but imports from Russia have been scaled back following the latest round of US measures. The company has significant business interests in the United States and is keen to avoid potential regulatory issues.Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Reliance is estimated to have imported around $35 billion worth of Russian oil. Its “recalibration” of imports began soon after the EU adopted its 18th sanctions package earlier this year, shifting procurement toward other regions, a process industry sources say may accelerate further.Russia currently accounts for nearly one-third of India’s crude imports, averaging roughly 1.7 million barrels per day in 2025, with about 1.2 million barrels coming directly from Rosneft and Lukoil. The bulk of these volumes have been purchased by private refiners, primarily Reliance and Nayara Energy, with smaller quantities supplied to state-run companies.
