India well-prepared for global energy volatility: Puri

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri speaks at the closing ceremony of India Energy Week.

MARGAO
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has said that India has demonstrated strong preparedness to navigate sustained geopolitical volatility in global energy markets and will continue to occupy centre stage in international energy discourse.
Speaking at the Closing Ceremony of India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 held at ONGC, Betul, Puri emphasised that India’s energy strategy is anchored in diversification, resilience, and forward-looking transitions. “We have coped very well with successive geopolitical shocks. Each challenge has been converted into an opportunity—through diversification of supply sources and a rapid transition towards cleaner fuels,” the Union Minister said.
Highlighting India’s global standing, Puri noted that the country is today the third-largest energy consumer, fourth-largest refiner, and among the top exporters of petroleum products. “India will continue to ensure availability, affordability, and sustainability of energy, even amid global uncertainty,” he added.
The Union Minister also emphasised the government’s push on compressed biogas (CBG), green hydrogen, and indigenous clean-energy technologies, alongside continued investments in conventional fuels. “Traditional energy will remain essential, but the strides we are making—from ethanol blending to CBG, hydrogen, and biofuels—give us confidence that greener fuels will play an expanding role,” he said.
Addressing concerns around consumer impact during global price shocks, the Minister said that India has successfully insulated its citizens from volatility. “Global turmoil has never been passed on to the consumer. India today has among the lowest energy prices in the world, and uninterrupted supply has been maintained even during crises,” he said, citing timely interventions by oil marketing companies in ensuring fuel prices, including that of LPG, remained affordable to consumers.
Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, presented the government’s blueprint to support India’s growth trajectory. “With projected economic growth of over 7 per cent, energy demand will rise sharply. Our focus rests on two pillars: strengthening domestic exploration and production, and positioning India as a reliable supplier of refined products to the world,” the Secretary said.
Dr Mittal outlined ambitious plans to accelerate upstream activity, including increased drilling and exploration to enhance self-reliance. He also stressed the integration of refining and petrochemicals to maximise value addition and reduce imports. “We are building scale at home while remaining competitive globally,” he added.