Sanctioned Russian Oil Tanker Nears Adani’s Mundra Port Amid Policy Shift
A sanctioned oil tanker carrying Russian crude edged close to Adani Group’s Mundra port in Gujarat on Monday, making it one of the final blacklisted vessels to unload at the conglomerate’s facilities before a newly imposed ban takes full effect. The development, first reported by Bloomberg, highlights the complex intersection of geopolitics, trade, and energy security that India continues to navigate as Western sanctions tighten around Russia’s oil exports.
According to data compiled by Bloomberg, along with shipping intelligence firms Kpler and Vortexa, the tanker in question is the Spartan, a Suezmax-class vessel capable of transporting over one million barrels of oil. The ship is carrying a full cargo of Russia’s Urals crude blend and had positioned itself near a discharge point that supplies HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL), a joint venture refinery operated by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Mittal Energy.
The Spartan has been under scrutiny since 2023, when both the European Union and the United Kingdom placed it under sanctions for its role in transporting Russian crude to circumvent Western restrictions. Its arrival near Mundra raises questions about the timing of Adani Group’s recent decision to prohibit vessels that fall under such sanctions.
On September 11, Adani announced that it would no longer allow ships blacklisted by Western nations to dock at any of its ports across India. The announcement, reported by Reuters, was a significant policy reversal, as Adani’s ports have in recent years emerged as important gateways for Russian energy shipments into India. With Mundra serving as one of the largest privately operated ports in the country, its role in facilitating crude imports is critical, particularly as India has emerged as one of the biggest buyers of discounted Russian oil since the Ukraine war began.
The timing of the Spartan’s arrival suggests it may be among the final sanctioned tankers to berth before the ban takes full effect. For months, shipping trackers and energy analysts have noted that India has been a major destination for Russian oil carried by a so-called “shadow fleet” of tankers, many of which operate outside the traditional Western-dominated maritime insurance and tracking systems. These vessels, often older and with murky ownership structures, have been sanctioned for their role in enabling Russia to keep oil flowing despite international restrictions.
India’s reliance on Russian crude has increased dramatically over the past two years. At the height of Western embargoes, Moscow redirected its oil exports from Europe to Asia, offering steep discounts to countries like India and China. Indian refiners, including state-run firms as well as private players, seized the opportunity to secure cheaper supplies. As a result, Russian oil at times has accounted for nearly half of India’s total crude imports, strengthening the country’s energy security but also exposing it to geopolitical crosscurrents.
The Spartan’s case underscores these tensions. While Indian refiners and traders argue that their purchases of Russian oil comply with domestic law and international regulations not formally adopted by India, the presence of sanctioned vessels complicates matters. Western sanctions often target not just the oil but also the ships and entities facilitating the transport. Allowing such vessels to dock could risk drawing secondary scrutiny or potential restrictions on Indian ports and refiners from Western partners.
Adani Group’s move to block sanctioned tankers can be seen as an attempt to pre-empt such risks. By aligning its port policies more closely with international compliance standards, the conglomerate may be seeking to insulate itself from reputational and financial fallout. The decision also reflects the growing pressures on Indian businesses that operate globally, as they must balance domestic priorities with international regulatory landscapes.
For HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd, the Spartan’s arrival could be a reminder of the logistical and political complexities of sourcing Russian oil. HMEL’s Bathinda refinery in Punjab has been a key recipient of Russian crude unloaded at Mundra, which is then piped inland. If sanctioned vessels are barred going forward, refiners will have to rely on non-blacklisted carriers, potentially adding costs or constraining flexibility in procurement.
Globally, the debate over Russia’s oil exports remains contentious. The G7, along with the EU, has attempted to enforce a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian oil shipments, using maritime insurance as leverage. However, many shipments have slipped through these restrictions via alternative shipping networks. Analysts note that shadow fleet tankers like the Spartan often obscure their routes, turn off tracking systems, or use ship-to-ship transfers to avoid detection.
For India, the immediate challenge is to maintain its access to affordable energy while avoiding entanglement in sanctions disputes. Officials in New Delhi have consistently maintained that the country’s oil imports are guided by national interests and energy security needs, and that they do not recognize unilateral sanctions imposed by other countries. At the same time, Indian companies such as Adani must contend with the practical realities of operating in a global business environment where Western compliance frameworks often shape financial and trade flows.
As the Spartan neared Mundra, questions swirled over whether it would be permitted to discharge its cargo under the new rules. Industry insiders suggest that shipments already en route prior to the September 11 ban might be allowed to complete their transactions, after which the policy would apply strictly. If so, the Spartan’s unloading could mark the end of an era for sanctioned tankers at Adani ports.
The episode illustrates how India’s expanding role as an energy consumer collides with the geopolitics of sanctions. With its economy growing rapidly and its oil demand rising, India cannot afford to isolate itself from major suppliers. Yet as sanctions regimes proliferate, the choices around which ships to allow, which oil to buy, and how to balance global pressures will only become more difficult.
For now, Mundra port remains a focal point of this balancing act. The Spartan’s approach symbolizes both the opportunities and the vulnerabilities of India’s energy diplomacy. Whether it ultimately unloads or is turned away, its voyage highlights the shifting rules of global oil trade in an age of sanctions, shadow fleets, and strategic recalibrations.
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