Washington, March 9 (IANS). US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Sunday said the United States had asked India to buy Russian oil cargoes that were waiting to be unloaded at China’s refineries to stabilize the global energy market amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Wright said in an interview with CNN that the Trump administration contacted India directly to reduce the fear in the oil markets in the Middle East.
“I called the Indians, as did US Treasury Secretary Scott Bresant, and said look, there is a lot of oil floating around in China’s refineries to be unloaded,” he said.
“Instead of waiting six weeks, let’s bring that oil forward quickly, unload it at India’s refineries and reduce fears of oil shortages and rising prices,” he added.
The US Energy Secretary said the move was aimed at quickly bringing additional crude oil into global markets and preventing further increases in oil prices due to the ongoing war with Iran.
He also said that this is a practical and short-term effort and does not change America’s policies towards Russia.
Wright also said that America’s policy towards Russia still remains the same, although India has been given a temporary exemption.
He said India has already taken steps to shift its energy sources away from Russian crude and has increased its oil imports from other countries, including the US.
–IANS
AY/DSC
