Major deals, energy policy shifts announced at India Energy Week 2025

Posted on 14 Feb 2025

New Delhi: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted the key outcomes of India Energy Week (IEW) 2025, emphasising its growing significance in the global energy sector. The event saw a high level of participation from industry leaders, exhibitors, and technical experts, covering sectors such as petroleum, natural gas, green energy, biofuel, and compressed biogas (CBG).

Puri stated that within three years, India Energy Week has become the world’s second-largest energy platform. The fourth edition of the event is scheduled to take place in Goa, distinguishing itself from other forums by facilitating business transactions rather than serving solely as a networking platform. He pointed to innovations showcased at the event, including an affordable conversion kit for biofuel usage in two- and three-wheelers at the HPCL stall, as well as a display of flex-fuel vehicles.

India-US energy cooperation and natural gas expansion

Addressing India’s energy policy, Puri noted the country’s goal of increasing the share of natural gas in its energy mix from 6% to 15%. He underscored the role of India’s partnership with the United States in securing liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies.

Exploration and production sector reforms

Puri also detailed developments in the Exploration and Production (E&P) sector, highlighting the Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) Round X, covering approximately 200,000 square kilometres. He attributed the increased industry interest to systematic reforms, including a shift from production to revenue-sharing mechanisms and proposed amendments to the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act of 1948. The new legislative framework is expected to be presented in Parliament soon.

He further noted that companies like ONGC, BP, and Reliance have demonstrated strong industry partnerships in bidding for oil and gas blocks. He emphasised that regulatory changes aim to ensure fair compensation for resource discovery, enhancing investor confidence. The recently passed amendments in the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Indian parliament) were cited as steps toward policy predictability, particularly in implementing windfall tax policies.

Global energy market and India’s international investments

Puri acknowledged the evolving global energy landscape, noting the emergence of new oil sources from Brazil, Argentina, Suriname, Canada, the US, and Guyana. He expressed confidence in India’s international investments in oil and gas assets across Brazil, Venezuela, Russia, and Mozambique.

Advancements in biofuel and green hydrogen

Discussing India’s biofuel initiatives, Puri highlighted the nation’s ethanol blending capacity of 1,700 crore litres, with the potential to exceed the 20% blending target. He also reiterated India’s commitment to green hydrogen, targeting an annual production of 5 million metric tons by 2030. Sustainable aviation fuel development was also cited as a key area of focus.

Startup and innovation recognition at IEW 2025

During the event, several startups were recognised for their contributions to the energy sector under the Avinya’25 – Energy Startup Challenge. UrjanovaC Pvt Ltd won the top prize for its synthetic catalyst technology enabling scalable CO₂ capture and conversion. The first runner-up, Breathe ESG Private Limited, developed a SaaS platform for ESG reporting and compliance. AgriVijay, the second runner-up, introduced a renewable energy marketplace for rural areas, while Apeiro Energy and UGreen Technology were also acknowledged for their innovations in microgrid integration and carbon capture technology, respectively.

The newly launched Vasudha – Oil and Gas Startup Challenge got recognition as a global startup in upstream oil and gas innovation. Latin Energy Partners Inc. from Paraguay won, while Ultrasound Process Consultation LLC from the US was named the runner-up for advancements in oil and gas exploration and AI-driven production management.

Hackathon for energy solutions

A hackathon involving premier IITs focused on carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) and renewable energy solutions. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad won the competition, with IIT Guwahati securing second place.

Looking ahead

India Energy Week 2025, set for February 11-14 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, is expected to play a key role in shaping the global energy discourse. With a focus on technological innovation, business collaboration, and regulatory reforms, the event aims to strengthen India’s position in the global energy transition.

Image courtesy: Press Information Bureau

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