A goldsmith engrossed in jewellery making at a unit.
| Photo Credit: S. Siva Saravanan

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Minister of Petroleum and VP Delcy Rodriguez, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, and First Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Pavel Sorokin at India Energy Week 2025, in New Delhi on Tuesday
| Photo Credit: PIB

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas H.E. Hardeep Singh Puri said India was planning to increase the usage of liquified natural gas (LNG) from 6% to 15%, for which long-term agreements have been signed with Qatar.

Mr. Puri was inaugurating the third edition of the India Energy Week 2025 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi on Tuesday (February 11, 2025). Stating that India was not facing any energy deficit, he said as part of adopting clean energy, the country was installing massive LNG storage infrastructure and increasing the production of bio fuels to help achieve 20% usage of green energy. The bio fuel adoption is planned to be achieved through the provision of incentives and subsidies for electrolysers, he added. 

The Union Minister pointed out that as part of having a diversified portfolio of energy requirements for long-term purposes, 500 million tonnes of biofuel feedstock will be used, along with the scaling of hydrogen energy to achieve 5 million metric tonnes by 2030. Under this hydrogen project, $96 billion was pumped into hydrogen investments, and for LNG, $30 billion, in refining and petrochemical expansion.

India has achieved 100% electrification and has made a mark in providing access to clean cooking in the country through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), Mr. Puri said.

After participating in a session on ‘Shaping the new world energy order and trade map’, he launched the open acreage licensing policy X, in which 25 blocks measuring 1,91,986 sq. km were identified for hydrocarbon exploration and licensing policy in the country.

New Delhi:

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, in an exclusive interview with NDTV, spoke about the importance of biofuels in reducing world pollution and making India a carbon-neutral nation.

The Global Biofuels Alliance was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 18th G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi yesterday. PM Modi called on countries to join the initiative and set a global target of blending 20% ethanol with petrol.

“The Biofuels Alliance is a historic event that will help us reduce world pollution in a major way,” Mr Gadkari said. “Using ethanol in petrol is a major achievement, and it will be especially helpful for farmers, who can now sell their surplus crop to fuel stations.”

India is increasing its ability to produce biofuels, a renewable energy source derived from organic matter. The country imports more than 85% of its crude oil requirements, so it is looking to reduce its reliance on imported oil by producing biofuels from domestic sources.

The Alliance aims to secure the supply of biofuels, ensure their affordability, and promote sustainable production.

Mr Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, also spoke about the importance of green hydrogen in India’s future. 

“Green hydrogen is a futuristic vision for India,” he said. “It has the potential to make our automobile sector the number one in the world.”

In 2009, developed countries pledged to provide $100 billion per year by 2020 to help developing countries combat climate change. However, this never materialised. The Biofuel Alliance being agreed when the G20 presidency is with India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer, is therefore seen as a landmark moment for the country that is being hailed as the voice of the Global South.

“The Biofuel Alliance is a win-win situation for Atmanirbhar Bharat. It will help to reduce air pollution, create jobs, and make India a leader in the production and use of biofuels. The alliance is also aligned with India’s goal of becoming a carbon-neutral country by 2070,” Mr. Gadkari told NDTV.

The launch of the alliance coincides with India, the United States, and several major economies announcing an ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. 

The initiative, seen by many as a potential alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, was jointly announced by PM Modi and the leaders of the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

Once completed, the project can serve as a modern-day Silk Road that functioned as the central trade route facilitating economic partnerships, political alliances, and cultural integration across continents.