Ship tracking data revealed on Tuesday that a vessel sanctioned by the European Union is currently offloading Russian naphtha at a port in western India.
This port is operated by the Adani group, according to a Reuters report.
This discharge marks the first occurrence of its kind since the conglomerate implemented a ban on blacklisted vessels from using its terminals.
The medium-range (MR) tanker Prometei, laden with a significant consignment of Russian naphtha, is currently engaged in discharging its cargo at the Mundra port.
Sanctioned vessel docks despite ban
This particular shipment comprises approximately 30,000 metric tons, which translates to an estimated 260,000 barrels of the petroleum product.
The final recipient of this substantial cargo is HPCL-Mittal Energy (HMEL), a key player in the Indian energy sector.
Further corroborating the information, shipping data from prominent maritime intelligence firms Kpler and LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) also tracks and verifies the tanker’s arrival and the commencement of its discharge process at Mundra, according to the report.
This delivery highlights the continued flow of Russian petroleum products into the Indian market, a trend that has gained prominence amidst global shifts in energy trade.
The naphtha is a crucial feedstock for HMEL’s refining operations, emphasising the strategic importance of this logistical event.
According to Kpler data, the cargo was loaded on September 22nd at the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga, with its destination being Mundra.
Naphtha is a volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture. It serves as a crucial feedstock in the petrochemical industry for producing plastics and synthetic fibres.
Additionally, it is essential for formulating gasoline, where its blending contributes to the fuel’s octane rating and overall performance.
Adani’s policy and Western sanctions
The arrival of this tanker marks the first sanctioned vessel to dock at Mundra Port since September 11, the date when the port’s owner, the Adani Group (controlled by billionaire Gautam Adani), prohibited all sanctioned Western tankers from using its facilities.
The imposition of sanctions by key Western powers—namely the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the US—represents a concerted and multifaceted effort to financially cripple the Russian Federation.
This policy is explicitly aimed at curtailing the flow of revenue to Moscow, thereby undermining its ability to fund the ongoing military aggression and war in Ukraine.
The sanctions regime is comprehensive, targeting a wide range of Russian entities, including influential banks, state-owned enterprises, key individuals within the political and economic elite (oligarchs), and specific sectors vital to the Russian economy, such as energy, finance, and technology.
These measures are designed to inflict maximum economic pain by severing Russia’s access to international financial markets, restricting its ability to import crucial technologies for its military and industrial base, and ultimately depleting the financial reserves that underpin its war machine.
India’s rising energy imports
Since the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, India has emerged as a significant importer of Russian naphtha, bringing in approximately 54,000 barrels per day so far this year, according to Kpler data.
Approximately 185,000 tons of naphtha were loaded from Russian ports destined for India in October, according to LSEG data.
This represents an increase from the roughly 170,000 tons loaded in September, with the majority of the October shipments still en route at sea.
According to the Reuters report, Adani prevented a vessel chartered by Nayara Energy, a UK and EU-sanctioned refiner, from docking at its Mundra port last month. The vessel was carrying refined fuels.
The MR-sized tanker Rose Makis, which was not under sanction, was carrying fuel destined for the state-run company Hindustan Petroleum Corp. HPCL has recently increased its purchases from Nayara.
According to LSEG data and sources, the ship Rose Makis was diverted to Mumbai port after Adani refused it entry.
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