The Helsinki-based Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has identified India as one of the five countries referred to as “Laundromat” countries, which buy Russian oil and then sell processed products to European countries, thereby bypassing European sanctions against Russia.
The report accuses Indian sellers and European buyers of possibly “circumventing sanctions” by selling crude products from a refinery in Gujarat that is co-owned by Russian oil company Rosneft.
The report highlights the “place of origin” certification should accompany oil products sold to Europe, and alleges that the most oil products are being exported from two ports in Gujarat: the Sikka port that services the Reliance-owned Jamnagar refinery, and the Vadinar port that ships oil products from Nayara energies, which is partly owned (49.13%) by Rosneft.
India has been accused of “whitewashing” Russian oil in third countries, and selling crude products to coalition countries. The report by CREA recommends that “place of origin” certification should accompany oil products sold to Europe.