India’s Refined Russian Oil Flows Back to Moscow as Fuel Shortage Forces Gasoline Imports from Asia.

The Russian Oil Refining Loop via India

According to Espreso.tv: Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has detailed a scheme in which Nayara Energy, an Indian company, processes Russian crude oil and then ships it out using what is described as a 'shadow fleet.' This arrangement unfolds against the backdrop of a severe fuel shortage in Russia, where long lines at gas stations have pushed the country to import gasoline from Asian nations.

A key element of this operation is that 49.13% of Nayara Energy’s shares are held by Rosneft, a Russian state-owned enterprise. This partnership lets Moscow maintain a degree of control over oil supplies despite ongoing international sanctions.

Fuel Deficit and Gasoline Imports

On June 6, the tanker AGNI departed from a Nayara Energy storage facility carrying 67,500 metric tons of petroleum products. Later, the vessel GARNET transferred this cargo at sea from the AGNI, a maneuver that highlights the use of maritime routes to bypass conventional supply chains.

Russia’s fuel shortage emerged in late May, prompting the country to seek gasoline from abroad. On June 17, Moscow announced plans to import gasoline by sea from Asian countries—a first step toward alternative supply sources. By July 1, Russia had begun maritime deliveries of gasoline from India, with at least 60,000 tons of fuel already dispatched on two tankers.

The crisis became so acute that in June, searches for 'how to make gasoline' on the Yandex search engine tripled. This spike indicates that ordinary Russians are desperately looking for ways to cope with limited access to fuel.

Overall, the fuel deficit in Russia and the surge in imports from Asia point to major shifts in the energy market, shifts that could have serious consequences for the country’s economy.

This situation underscores the challenges Russia faces due to international sanctions and internal economic strains. Changing suppliers and adopting new import routes may become critical elements of the country’s strategy to stave off a deeper economic downturn.