據4月6日彭博社報道，隨著新冠肺炎疫情復蘇，印度的需求將會下降，而兩國之間的關系因油價而惡化，印度的國有煉油商正尋求減少從沙特阿拉伯購買原油。

這個世界第三大石油進口國的加工商已經尋求減少從沙特購買原油的數量。據這些煉油商負責采購原油的人士稱，這些煉油商已尋求將5月供應量減少約三分之一的月均采購量。

4月5日，印度石油公司和其他三家加工商向沙特阿美公司發出了他們的請求，也就是所謂的提名，這些因公司政策而不愿透露姓名的人士表示。沙特阿美預計將在未來幾天通知客戶他們的分配情況。

近幾個月來，印度已成為沙特在油價和歐佩克+產出政策上的強硬立場的公開批評者，日益加劇的緊張局勢促使該國尋找替代原油來源。沙特阿拉伯國家石油公司上周提高了所有運往亞洲的石油的銷售價格，盡管石油輸出國組織已達成協議，將逐步向市場恢復更多的供應。

隨著新冠肺炎繼續以驚人的速度增長，印度的能源需求預計將減弱，導致地方政府考慮部分封鎖和安全距離措施。知情人士說，一些煉油廠還計劃關閉工廠進行維修工作，從而降低印度未來幾個月的石油需求。

印度感染人數創歷史新高，促使孟買在四月份實施了限制措施。他們說，他們表示，未來6個月石油產品用量可能縮減多達20%，此外季風的季節性影響也會減少燃料需求。

政府數據顯示，去年印度進口的石油中約有86%來自歐佩克+成員國，19%來自沙特阿拉伯。印度政府已敦促加工商實現供應商多元化，導致煉油商從中東以外地區搶購更多貨物。

馮于榮 摘譯自 彭博社

原文如下：

India Seeks Less Saudi Oil as Virus Resurgence Dents Demand

State-run refiners in India are looking to buy less crude from Saudi Arabia as demand in the Asian nation is poised to dip amid a resurgence of Covid-19, and relations between the two countries sour over prices.

Processors in the world’s no. 3 oil importer have sought to reduce May supplies by about one-third of their average monthly purchases, according to people handling the procurement of crude at these refiners.

Indian Oil Corp. and three other processors sent their requests, also known as nominations, to Saudi Aramco on April 5, said the people who asked not to be named due to company policy. Aramco is expected to inform customers of their allocations in the coming days.

India has become a vocal critic of the kingdom’s hawkish stance on oil prices and OPEC+ output policy in recent months, with mounting tensions prompting the country to seek alternative sources of crude. Saudi Aramco last week raised selling prices for all Asia-bound shipments despite an agreement by OPEC+ to gradually return more supplies to the market.

Energy demand in India is expected to weaken as Covid-19 infections continue to rise at an alarming rate, leading local governments to consider partial lockdowns and safe-distancing measures. Some refiners also have plans to shut their plants for maintenance work, thereby lowering India’s oil requirements in the coming months, the people said.

See also: India Hits Record Infections Spurring Mumbai Curbs Through April

Petroleum product usage could shrink by as much as 20% over the next six months, they said, on top of the seasonal effect of the monsoon reducing fuel demand.

About 86% of Indian oil imports last year were from OPEC+ members, with 19% coming from Saudi Arabia, according to government data. New Delhi has urged its processors to diversify suppliers, leading to refiners snapping up more cargoes from outside the Middle East.