New Delhi: India’s major oil refiners have temporarily halted new orders for Russian crude as they await government guidance and assess the impact of fresh U.S. sanctions targeting Moscow’s key energy producers.

According to industry sources, companies such as Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Reliance Industries have paused fresh procurement from Russian suppliers after Washington imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil earlier this month. The refiners are seeking clarity from authorities and banks on whether payments linked to these companies could violate global trade restrictions.

For the past two years, discounted Russian oil had become a major component of India’s energy imports, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the country’s crude intake. However, recent sanctions and tighte

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