India’s Largest Refiner Reliance Cuts Russian Oil Supply to Protect Access to EU Market

India's Reliance Industries stopped using Russian crude at its export-focused refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat, as part of its steps to comply with new restrictions set by the European Union.

EU Sanctions Drive a Strategic Shift

Reliance, India’s largest buyer of Russian oil, traditionally processed this crude into fuels such as gasoline and diesel at its massive Jamnagar refining complex. The complex includes two refineries: one located in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that exports fuel to the European Union, the US and other international markets, and an older facility serving India’s domestic market.

The European Union, a key market for Reliance, introduced broad sanctions aimed at reducing Russia’s energy revenue. These include strict limits on importing and selling fuels produced from Russian crude.

Complete Transition Away from Russian Crude

To meet these rules, Reliance ended the processing of Russian oil at its SEZ refinery.

“We stopped importing Russian crude for our SEZ refinery on November 20,” a company representative said on Thursday.

Like any major industrial operation, a refinery processes its remaining stored feedstock before switching fully to new supplies. Once older inventories run out, all fuel will come from non-Russian crude.

“Starting December 1, all exported petroleum products from the SEZ refinery will be made exclusively from non-Russian oil,” the company added.

The company emphasized that the transition finished ahead of schedule to guarantee full compliance with import restrictions that take effect in January 2026.

Past Sanctions Forced Earlier Adjustments

Last month, after the US imposed sanctions on major Russian oil exporters Rosneft and Lukoil, Reliance pledged to follow all applicable rules and adjust its refinery operations accordingly.

On October 24, the company noted:

“We acknowledge the new restrictions announced by the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States on importing Russian crude and exporting petroleum products to Europe. Reliance is currently evaluating the implications, including updated compliance requirements.”

Jamnagar’s Global Role and the Scale of the Shift

Reliance, which operates the world’s largest single-location refining complex in Jamnagar, had purchased roughly half of the 1.7–1.8 million barrels per day of Russian crude sent to India at discounted prices.

The company refines this oil into gasoline, diesel and aviation turbine fuel, exporting a significant share of these products at market prices to regions such as Europe and other global destinations.