IEW2025: Global energy leaders chart path for sustainable growth

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New Delhi: Global exploration and production (E&P) leaders have emphasised the critical need to balance energy expansion with decarbonisation, digitalisation, and sustainable exploration strategies as India’s energy sector evolves.

Speaking at India Energy Week 2025, which concluded last week in New Delhi, industry experts highlighted key initiatives aimed at ensuring energy security while transitioning towards a low-carbon future.

The panel discussion, themed Shaping a New Era of Pragmatism for Developing Upstream Portfolios in a Low-Carbon Energy Future, featured prominent figures including Dr Ranjit Rath, Chairman of Oil India Ltd, Dr Rajarshi Gupta, MD of ONGC Videsh Ltd, and Sylvia dos Anjos, Director for E&P (Upstream) at Petrobras.

The discussions focused on maximising production from existing fields, leveraging new technologies, and expanding exploration efforts.

Dr Rath underscored Oil India’s efforts to enhance output from both existing and unexplored reserves, noting that evolving exploration models now prioritise untapped resources within already drilled wells. Dr Gupta outlined ONGC’s strategy of global expansion while simultaneously investing in decarbonisation, stating that the company has committed $24 billion towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2038, with $12 billion allocated for initiatives spanning from 2023 to 2038.

Digitalisation emerged as a key theme, with Aparna Raman, President of the Reservoir Performance Division at SLB, emphasising its role in optimising brownfield opportunities and improving operational efficiency. “Digital technology is key to unlocking exploration potential, optimising brownfield opportunities, and enhancing efficiency through real-time data connectivity,” she said.

The importance of offshore exploration was another focal point, with Dr Kushav Nag, Additional Director at the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, stressing, “Exploration is the foundation for energy security—India must intensify offshore activities, especially on the east coast, to unlock its vast untapped reserves.”

Brazil’s energy transition provided a comparative perspective, as Petrobras’ Sylvia dos Anjos reflected on the country’s shift from oil imports to self-sufficiency. She noted that India’s growing energy demand necessitates increased international collaboration to secure stable supplies.

The discussions reinforced India’s broader vision of achieving a $10 trillion economy by 2032, with a focus on energy affordability, security, and sustainability. Government policies such as the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) and the National Seismic Program were identified as key enablers in tapping domestic reserves.

As India continues its energy transition, the collaboration between industry leaders and policymakers will be crucial in balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility. India Energy Week 2025, now recognised as the world’s second-largest energy event, has reaffirmed its role as a global platform for shaping the future of energy.

 

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