‘No pressure to limit energy purchases from Russia’

INDIA said on Friday (12) there was no pressure on it from Western countries or anywhere else over its energy purchases from Russia, as Indian firms step up imports of oil and coal from the country shunned by some governments for its invasion of Ukraine.

India, the world’s third-biggest crude importer, overtook China to become the biggest buyer of Russian oil in July based on sea-borne volumes, having bought tiny from the country before the start of the war in Ukraine in February.

Also in July, Russia became India’s

third-largest coal supplier, up from the sixth position historically, as discounts drove shipments to a record.

The United States has tried to lure India away from its main arms supplier Russia, but New Delhi says its own needs as an emerging country are paramount. India has not condemned the invasion.

‘Our decisions on what we do regarding purchase of oil or other things related to that will be guided by our energy security requirements, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.