India’s second-largest private oil refiner files lawsuit against Microsoft

(MENAFN) Nayara Energy, India’s second-largest private oil refiner partially owned by Russia’s Rosneft, has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft after the US tech company suspended key services. The company stated that Microsoft restricted its access to data and proprietary products, citing European Union sanctions as the reason.

“Nayara Energy has initiated legal proceedings against Microsoft following the abrupt and unilateral suspension of critical services,” the company announced. It added that Microsoft’s actions limited Nayara’s use of its own data and licensed tools despite having fully paid-up licenses.

Nayara criticized Microsoft’s decision as “based solely on Microsoft’s unilateral interpretation of recent European Union sanctions,” warning that it sets a “dangerous precedent for corporate overreach” and raises significant concerns about its impact on India’s energy sector.

Earlier this month, the EU imposed sanctions on the Vadinar refinery, owned by Nayara, which is an Indo-Russian joint venture with Rosneft holding a 49% stake. The sanctions, targeting the oil industry, include a ban on importing refined petroleum products derived from Russian crude, marking the first EU sanctions against an Indian refiner.

Rosneft condemned the EU’s decision as “unjustified and illegal.” Nayara also questioned the legality of Microsoft’s suspension of services in response to these sanctions.

MENAFN30072025000045017281ID1109861572