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India, the world's third-largest energy consumer, is actively pursuing strategies to enhance its domestic energy production and reduce its reliance on imports. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri's recent statements underscore this commitment, highlighting the nation's progress in clean energy and fuel production. While acknowledging the significant dependence on imports, Puri emphasized the decisive steps being taken to achieve greater self-sufficiency in the energy sector, a key component of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The nation currently consumes approximately 5.4 million barrels of oil per day, a substantial figure that necessitates a multi-pronged approach to secure its energy future. This approach includes increasing domestic production of oil and natural gas, promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources like biogas, and diversifying import sources to mitigate risks associated with geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions. The government's focus on enhancing domestic energy production is not merely an economic imperative; it is also a strategic necessity. Reducing dependence on imports strengthens India's energy security, making it less vulnerable to external shocks and allowing it to pursue its foreign policy objectives with greater autonomy. Furthermore, promoting domestic energy production can stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and foster innovation in the energy sector. The development of compressed biogas (CBG) plants is a significant aspect of India's clean energy strategy. The fact that 113 CBG plants are currently operational, with another 73 under construction, demonstrates the government's commitment to expanding the use of biogas as a transportation fuel and as a substitute for traditional fossil fuels. CBG is produced from organic waste, such as agricultural residue, animal dung, and municipal solid waste, making it an environmentally friendly and sustainable energy source. The widespread adoption of CBG can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and manage waste more effectively. The increasing availability of CNG-compatible car models in the market further supports the growth of the CBG sector, as it provides consumers with a cleaner and more affordable alternative to gasoline and diesel. The success of India's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution program is another notable achievement in the energy sector. The country now has 33.5 crore LPG connections, including 10.5 crore under the Ujjwala Yojana, a program that provides subsidized LPG connections to low-income households. This has significantly improved access to clean cooking fuel for millions of families, reducing indoor air pollution and improving health outcomes, particularly for women and children. However, despite the widespread adoption of LPG, India still imports about 60% of its LPG needs, highlighting the need for further efforts to increase domestic LPG production. Minister Puri's statement that India is 'running against all statistics' reflects the scale of the challenge in meeting the country's growing energy demand. While domestic production of natural gas is increasing at a healthy rate of 18% per year, India still imports around 50% of its natural gas requirements. This underscores the importance of exploring and developing new natural gas reserves within the country, as well as diversifying import sources to ensure a reliable supply of this critical fuel. The government's commitment to Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliant India, is driving its efforts to enhance domestic energy production. While acknowledging that achieving complete self-sufficiency in the energy sector will take time, the government is pursuing a comprehensive strategy that includes increasing refinery output, expanding exploration and production (E&P) activities, and diversifying import sources. This multi-faceted approach is essential to ensuring India's energy security and supporting its economic growth. The oil sector plays a vital role, exploration and production is key for enhancing the domestic capacity of oil. Government is also pushing for more ethanol blended petrol to reduce the dependency on oil imports. Biofuel and biomass energy are also key aspects of energy security. These initiatives support a greener, cleaner future for India and reduce its carbon footprint. The Nayara refinery to be hit hard by EU sanctions on Russian oil which means India needs to be prepared to get oil from other places. Overall India must diversify its supply and be able to fulfill its demand. India must aim to achieve energy independence to drive its growing economic ambitions and not be constrained by geopolitical factors. This approach also strengthens India's position on the global stage and enhances its strategic autonomy. The energy policy is intertwined with development and infrastructure for India, allowing it to support and accelerate progress. India has a large population and with increasing industrialization, demand will only go up. Therefore policies need to be forward thinking and ambitious so that India can achieve a sustainable energy infrastructure and security for its future.
Source: India taking decisive steps to increase domestic energy production: Hardeep Puri