India, Feb. 14 -- Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Limited has received a US general licence to purchase Venezuelan crude oil directly, enabling India's largest private refiner to resume imports of discounted heavy feedstock that aligns with its Jamnagar refinery configuration and optimises refining margins.

Reliance, which operates the world's largest single-site refining complex at Gujarat's Jamnagar, was among international companies which in late January got a general licence from the US for buying Venezuelan oil directly without violating sanctions, sources aware of the matter said.

Since capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last month, the US has eased sanctions on the South American nation's energy industr...