By Arpan Chaturvedi
(Reuters) -Microsoft has restored services to Russia-backed Indian refiner Nayara Energy, Nayara’s lawyer told a New Delhi court, days after the U.S. tech giant terminated its services due to European Union sanctions.
Nayara has been forced to scale back operations at its 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery for lack of sufficient fuel storage and vessel owners’ demand to end their contracts after it was hit by the EU’s latest sanctions.
Microsoft suspended service after the EU introduced its fresh round of sanctions on July 18 against Russia and its energy sector that also cover Nayara, majority owned by Russian entities such as oil major Rosneft.
Nayara had approached a New Delhi court to order restoration of Microsoft’s services, saying its employees were unable to access official emails and company data needed for day-to-day operations.
On Wednesday, Nayara’s lawyer told the judge that the “matter has been resolved” as Microsoft has restored services to the company.
In a statement to Reuters, Microsoft confirmed it has restored services for Nayara Energy.
“We are engaged in ongoing discussions with the European Union towards service continuity for the organization,” Microsoft added.
Russian oil major Rosneft holds a 49.13% stake in Nayara and a similar stake is owned by a consortium, Kesani Enterprises Co Ltd, led by Italy’s Mareterra Group and Russian investment group United Capital Partners.
Nayara operates about 6,600 retail fuel outlets and runs India’s third-biggest refinery at the port of Vadinar in the western state of Gujarat.
Nayara, Reuters has previously reported, had turned to Indian firm Rediff.com to ensure communication between employees when Microsoft services were terminated.
(Reporting by Arpan ChaturvediEditing by Eileen Soreng and Frances Kerry)
