Congress leader Udit Raj addressed the recent agreement regarding India's oil purchases, highlighting that the government has commenced agreements to buy oil from Venezuela. He pointed out that the associated transportation costs are significantly high since the oil must be imported over a long distance, which poses logistical challenges. Additionally, he raised concerns about the compatibility of India's refining infrastructure with oil from Venezuela.

Udit Raj emphasized that India's refineries have been primarily calibrated for crude oil coming from the Gulf regions and Russia, which means they are not optimally configured to handle oil from Venezuela or the United States. This situation raises potential issues regarding the efficiency and efficacy of refining operations in India should imports from these countries increase. Raj’s remarks underscore the complexities involved in diversifying India's oil sources, especially from regions that are geographically distant and have differing refinery requirements.

The broader implications of these statements suggest a potential risk for India's energy security and cost of imports if such agreements continue to be pursued without addressing the infrastructural challenges. The government may need to consider investing in infrastructure upgrades or reevaluating its energy import strategy to ensure that it remains cost-effective and reliable.