During the closing fireside chat at India Energy Week (IEW) 2026, Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri said India has strengthened its energy security framework by diversifying supply sources, expanding alternative fuels and building domestic capacity to manage global disruptions.
The session, moderated by energy markets analyst Vandana Hari, focused on how India is navigating geopolitical and market challenges affecting global energy flows.
Puri referred to supply risks arising from shipping disruptions, geopolitical tensions in key transit routes and the global energy shock of 2022, stating that India has responded by broadening its crude sourcing base from 27 countries to 40. He also highlighted the increase in ethanol blending in petrol from 1.4 per cent to 20 per cent as part of efforts to reduce import dependence.
He said these measures position India to play a larger role in the global energy market over the coming years, even as volatility persists.
Ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG) secretary Neeraj Mittal outlined the government’s strategy, which he said is based on strengthening domestic oil and gas exploration while leveraging India’s status as the world’s fourth-largest refining hub to expand exports of petroleum products and petrochemicals.
Mittal said technology adoption, including digitalisation and artificial intelligence, will be critical to improving operational efficiency and reducing logistics and supply chain costs across the energy sector.
On alternative fuels, Mittal said the government is working to scale up compressed biogas production by converting agricultural waste into energy. He said pilot projects supported through public funding and state-level initiatives aim to increase biogas blending in gas networks to 5 per cent by 2030.
The discussion also touched on India’s approach to international energy engagement. Puri said India’s priority is to ensure uninterrupted supply to meet domestic demand, noting that energy diplomacy will continue to be guided by security and affordability considerations.
He also referred to measures aimed at protecting consumers from global price volatility, including the Ujjwala scheme for LPG access. According to the minister, state-run oil marketing companies have played a key role in maintaining supply stability and are increasingly expanding into trading and new technology areas, including exploratory work on small modular nuclear reactors.
The session concluded with speakers reiterating India’s focus on balancing energy availability, affordability and sustainability as it pursues its transition goals amid global uncertainty.
