Business

India vows energy security as US Russia bill looms

By Sohail Khan 17 September 2026, 10:09 am

Benchmarks
Nifty23,309.4591.86

FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★

Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth

5Y Return
22 %

Invest Now

Enter search text:

Business News›News›Economy›Foreign Trade›India vows to protect energy security as US Russia bill opens door to 100% tariffs

Read Today's Paper

India vows to protect energy security as US bill opens door to 100% tariffs
Synopsis

India is closely watching a US bill that could allow tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian energy. With Russia accounting for 30.3% of India’s crude imports in FY2026, New Delhi said it would prioritise energy security, diversify supplies and protect its trade and economic interests.

Listen to this article in summarized format

Loading…
×
×

Unlock AI Briefing and Premium Content

New Year Offer 24 Hours Left
Already a member? Sign In

What's Included

Exclusive Stories
Daily ePaper Access
Smart Market Tools
Curated Investment Ideas
Ad-lite Experience
Subscription

India supplies 70% of Russia’s record fuel imports as Ukrainian drones hit refineries — Representative image.

India on Thursday said it was monitoring developments after the US Congress passed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, while making it clear that its energy security priorities would continue to guide its crude sourcing decisions.

The Minitry of External Affairs said India remained committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people and would continue to diversify its sources of supply based on changing market conditions.

The response comes after the US House of Representatives passed legislation authorising President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries, including India and China, that buy Russian oil and gas. The legislation now awaits Trump's signature.

Russian oil at the centre of the issue

India's dependence on Russian crude has risen sharply since 2022, making its oil purchases a key point in the US sanctions debate.

India bought $40.8 billion worth of Russian crude in FY2026, accounting for 30.3% of its total crude imports of $134.7 billion, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative. Russia's share had risen further to 51% of India's imported crude by July 2026.

Russian crude became a significant part of India's import basket after refiners stepped up purchases of discounted barrels following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The cheaper supplies have helped India lower its oil import bill and support energy security.

Also Read: Russian oil uncertainty hangs over India’s largest buyers

The exposure has also increased even as India has added more suppliers. ET reported earlier this month that India had expanded its crude sourcing to 31 countries during the six-month Iran war, but Russia's share had climbed to 47%.

What the US legislation means for India

The legislation gives the US president the authority to impose additional tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy. The passage of the bill does not itself mean that a 100% tariff has been imposed on India.

The measure has been closely watched in New Delhi because of its potential impact on India's exports to the US and on the cost and availability of crude.

India had previously said its energy procurement decisions would be guided by national priorities and energy security needs while it continued discussions with Washington.

In July, ET reported that any major disruption to Russian crude flows could add volatility to global oil markets, with analysts cautioning that replacing Russian supplies quickly could be difficult because of limited spare production capacity.

The government said it would work with Indian trade and industry bodies to address the implications of the latest developments.

Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

Read More News on
India energy securityUS tariffs on Russian oilcrude oil imports IndiaRussian crude imports IndiaUS Congress Sanctioning Russia and Iran Actenergy sourcing decisions Indiaimpact of US tariffs on Indiadiversifying energy sources IndiaIndia Russia oil tradeBilateral ties India US

Enter search text:

Continue reading with one of these options:
Limited Access
Free
Login to get access to some exclusive stories

& personalised newsletters
Login Now

Unlimited Access
Starting @ Rs120/month
Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &

in-depth stock reports
Subscribe Now

Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL

15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers

Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00

I'd rather pay ₹2599 now

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!

Subscribe to gain powerful insights on business, stock market and industry trends.

Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off

Student Only Offer

Already a Member? Sign In now

Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Special Offer

Get flat 40% off on ETPrime

Avail Offer
Avail Offer

Claim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Need Assistance?

Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance

+91 9484700004

' + h3 + '

' + h4 + '

' + listing + '

What’s Included with

ETPrime Membership

1Exclusive Insights That Matter

Uncover the truth with our investigative stories

Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies

Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends

Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter

Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US

What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.

Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?

The problem with lab grown diamonds
Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy

A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year