NEW DELHI, Feb 9 (Reuters) — India plans to maintain multiple sources of energy supply and diversify them when needed as New Delhi looks to ensure consumers receive «adequate energy at the right price through reliable and secure supplies», Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Monday.
Misri was responding to a question at a media briefing seeking clarity on India’s position on the purchase of Russian oil after U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that New Delhi had «committed to stop directly or indirectly» importing it.
* India’s priority is to safeguard the interests of itsconsumers through an energy policy driven by adequateavailability, fair pricing, and reliability of supply, Misrisaid. * India is neither dependent on any single source forcrude oil nor does it «intend to be», importing from a «mix ofsources» depending on «objective market conditions», he said,adding that «national interests» guide both the government andIndian energy companies. * Trump last week signed an executive order lifting the punitive 25% tariff on all imports fromIndia over its purchase of Russian oil. * The Kremlin earlier said it saw nothing new in India’s announcement that it would diversify itsenergy sourcing. * India’s Russian oil imports slipped in January as refiners sought more alternative barrels underWestern sanctions pressure and U.S.-India trade talks, Reutersreported.