India Rejects Sanctioned Russian LNG Cargo

India rejected a Russian offer to sell liquefied natural gas cargoes subject to United States sanctions on 30 April 2026. The decision was conveyed during a visit to New Delhi by Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin, who met Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and other officials.

Liquefied Natural Gas and Sanctions Compliance

Liquefied natural gas is natural gas cooled to about minus 162 degrees Celsius for transport in specialised tankers. LNG cargoes are easier to trace through global shipping systems than crude oil cargoes, and this feature affects compliance checks under sanctions regimes. India continued to buy Russian crude oil with temporary United States sanctions waivers, while the sanctioned LNG cargo faced refusal on compliance grounds. India also remained open to Russian LNG volumes that were not under sanctions, although many such volumes were already committed to European buyers.

Kunpeng Tanker and Portovaya Plant

The 138,200-cubic-metre tanker Kunpeng carried LNG from Russia’s sanctioned Portovaya plant in the Baltic Sea. The vessel remained stranded near Singaporean waters without a destination in May 2026 after it could not discharge cargo at the Dahej LNG terminal in Gujarat. The Portovaya LNG plant is located near the Baltic Sea and is linked to Russian gas export infrastructure. Dahej LNG terminal is one of India’s major LNG import terminals on the western coast.

India’s Energy Import Context

India imports a large share of its crude oil and natural gas requirements, and LNG forms part of its gas import basket. The Ministry of External Affairs described reports about a United States sanctions waiver request for Russian LNG imports as speculative and ill-informed in early April 2026. Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin may return to India in June 2026 for further discussions on energy supplies.

Important Facts for Exams

• LNG stands for liquefied natural gas, and it is stored and transported at about minus 162 degrees Celsius.
• The Portovaya LNG plant is a Russian export facility linked to the Baltic Sea region.
• Dahej LNG terminal is located in Gujarat and is one of India’s key LNG import terminals.
• United States sanctions can restrict trade in energy cargoes and shipping services linked to designated entities.