- Australia Faces Backlash Over Fuel Imports Tied to Russian Crude.
- Tanker Arrival Exposes Sanctions Loophole in Russian Oil Trade.
- Protests Erupt After Fuel Linked to Russia Reaches Western Australia.
A tanker loaded with gasoline, likely refined from Russian crude, has made its way to Australia, sparking worries about loopholes in sanctions and the role of middlemen in the global oil market, reports Marine Insight.
Tanker Seferis Docks Near Perth
The 113,839 DWT tanker Seferis arrived at the Kwinana terminal, just south of Perth, on July 30. It set sail from India’s Jamnagar refinery on July 11, carrying fuel believed to be refined from Russian oil. Despite calls for the ship to be turned away, it didn’t breach any sanctions since the paperwork indicated it was loaded in India. Critics pointed out that tracing the crude’s exact origin is nearly impossible.
Sanctions Loophole Under Fire
Australia has put in place extensive sanctions against Russia and has recently expanded these to include Russia’s shadow fleet. However, these sanctions don’t apply to products refined from Russian crude in third-party countries like India. Protesters argue that this loophole allows for indirect imports of Russian oil.
‘Blood Money’ Accusations and Import Data
Demonstrators labelled the fuel as “blood money,” referencing reports that nearly half of Jamnagar’s crude supply comes from Russia. In early 2025, Australia imported around US$650 million worth of oil products from India, with 90% of that coming from Jamnagar.
U.S. Threatens Secondary Sanctions
Donald Trump has issued warnings about potential secondary sanctions on countries like India unless Russia agrees to engage in peace talks. This adds pressure on the intermediaries involved in the oil supply chain.
Indian Private Refineries in Focus
While some state-owned Indian refineries have halted their purchases of Russian oil, private companies like Reliance and Nayara Energy continue to be significant buyers. Following sanctions on Nayara, some tankers have changed their routes, and companies are now looking to cancel contracts.
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Source: Marine Insight
