New delhi: An official at the Indian Ministry of Oil and Gas, Sudjata Sharma, stated on Monday that her country will continue to purchase oil from Russia regardless of US decisions regarding the inclusion or exclusion of Russian oil from sanctions, affirming that New Delhi relies on commercial viability in this matter.

According to Yemen News Agency, Sharma said during a press briefing: “Regarding the US exemption from sanctions imposed on Russia, I want to confirm that we were buying oil from Russia before, during, and even after the exemption.” She emphasized that the presence or absence of the US exemption does not impact India’s oil procurement strategy.

Sharma further elaborated, “There is no shortage of crude oil, and sufficient quantities of crude have been repeatedly contracted.” This statement underscores India’s commitment to maintaining its energy security by continuing oil imports from Russia, irrespective of the geopolitical pressures and sanctions imposed by other nations.

The US Treasury Department had announced last April the extension of the license for the sale of Russian oil to include crude loaded onto ships before April 17, with it remaining in effect until May 16 of this month. Washington has made several exemptions for Russian oil from certain sanctions over the past months, highlighting the complex nature of international energy markets and geopolitical alignments.