India and US to Explore Deeper Energy Cooperation for Clean Transition

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, met with US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, Geoffrey Pyatt, at the sidelines of GasTech 2024 in Houston. Both leaders reviewed the ongoing energy cooperation between India and the United States and agreed to explore avenues to further enhance collaboration across the entire energy value chain, focusing on a "just and orderly energy transition."

During the discussions, Puri and Pyatt emphasized the growing collaboration between institutions and companies from both countries, highlighting the importance of this partnership in shaping a more robust and diversified energy future.

Speaking about the meeting, Hardeep Singh Puri shared, “Met my friend for more than three decades & US @AsstSecENR Mr. Geoffery Pyatt at #GasTech2024 in Houston today.” He further added, “We reviewed the existing energy cooperation & agreed to explore ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across the energy value chain for just & orderly energy transition. Also discussed how our cooperation in the energy sector is both broadening & deepening due to the excellent collaboration between the institutions & companies from both sides.”

Puri, who is currently on a US visit, also inaugurated the India Pavilion at GasTech, a global event focused on natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, low-carbon solutions, and climate technologies. He noted that the Indian companies participating in GasTech are showcasing cutting-edge technological advancements, capabilities, and future opportunities for collaboration and investment.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Puri expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “Delighted to inaugurate the India Pavilion which marks a strong presence of India’s energy sector entities at @GastechEvent, the world’s largest event for the natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, low-carbon solutions, and climate technology industry in Houston.” He further noted that Indian companies are actively presenting opportunities for collaboration and investment, emphasizing India's journey towards energy self-sufficiency under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Growing India's Energy Influence

In addition to these engagements, Hardeep Singh Puri also participated in a ministerial panel discussion at GasTech 2024. The panel featured key figures such as Egypt's Minister Karim Badawi, Nigeria's Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo, Turkey's Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, and US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt.

During the discussion, Puri highlighted the role India plays in stabilizing global energy markets. He mentioned that without India’s proactive approach, the world could have faced a more severe energy crisis. “India’s energy demand is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of about 3 per cent per annum by 2040 and it is estimated to double by 2050,” he stated.

Reflecting on the global energy landscape, Puri said, “Delighted to join a Ministerial Panel with fellow Ministers from Egypt, HE Karim Badawi, Nigeria Rt Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo & Turkiye HE Alparslan Bayraktar & @AsstSecENR Mr. Geoffrey Pyatt, in a session on ‘From mitigation to adaptation: Navigating volatile geopolitics in a fragmenting global order’ moderated by Prof. John Defterios, @NYUAbuDhabi at @GastechEvent. I spoke about how emerging markets are reshaping the global energy landscape with nearly 80 per cent of the increase in global energy demand by 2045 to come from emerging economies.”

He emphasized that India's approach, which balances climate commitments and national interests, is essential for global energy stability. He also provided insight into the rising energy consumption patterns in India: "India is the world’s fastest-growing large economy, consuming about 5 mb/d of crude, with 67 million people visiting petrol pumps daily. The country’s energy demand will continue to grow robustly, and we are making substantial investments in both conventional and renewable energy sources."

India’s Role in the Global Energy Transition

India's Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri underscored that India’s energy transition journey is being powered by both national and international partnerships. The government has launched various initiatives aimed at increasing domestic energy production and diversifying energy sources. He mentioned, “We have taken several measures to enhance domestic production, diversify the supplies, and accelerate the adoption of low carbon solutions like biofuels, EVs, and hydrogen.”

India’s leadership in global clean energy partnerships, such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), was also highlighted as essential for driving the clean energy transition.

Strengthening Clean Energy Partnership with the US

Earlier in the week, Puri and US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm convened the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) Ministerial in Washington, D.C. During this meeting, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to clean energy innovation, energy security, and accelerating the clean energy transition.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that the two leaders reviewed initiatives under the SCEP, including Power and Energy Efficiency, Responsible Oil and Gas, Renewable Energy, Emerging Fuels and Technologies, and Sustainable Growth. "The ministers welcomed progress made under the partnership to drive clean energy innovation, strengthen energy security, and accelerate clean energy transitions, including through more focused efforts on clean energy manufacturing and building resilient, responsible, stable, secure, and diversified supply chains."