Quitol (Goa): India is looking to further enhance bilateral energy trade with the United States (US), including crude oil, LNG and LPG, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said during a press conference on Thursday, underscoring the government’s push to deepen long-term energy partnerships with key suppliers.
Puri said India currently imports energy worth about USD 15 billion from the US, and has recently signed a contract to source 10 percent of its LPG requirements from American suppliers. Discussions are also underway on expanding cooperation across the hydrocarbon value chain, including equity participation by Indian companies in LNG liquefaction projects in the US that are under construction or nearing final investment decision.
The remarks came at the India Energy Week (IEW) 2026, where the ministry hosted a high-level roundtable on the future of the India–US energy partnership, following up on discussions held during IEW 2025 in New Delhi.
Puri said the India–US engagement formed part of a broader push by the government to position India as a reliable long-term energy partner. He pointed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ninth roundtable with global energy CEOs, where company leaders expressed confidence in India’s growth trajectory and interest in expanding investments.
According to Puri, the Prime Minister highlighted that India represents a USD 500 billion opportunity across the energy sector, including an estimated USD 100 billion investment potential in exploration and production alone. Global CEOs discussed plans for deeper collaboration with Indian oil marketing companies and participation in expanding upstream opportunities.
India, he said, is diversifying its energy sourcing base, importing crude from about 40 countries and LNG from 18 sources, while exporting petroleum products to more than 150 nations.
Beyond the US, Puri said India is engaging resource-rich countries, such as Canada, to explore higher energy imports and cooperation in critical minerals. Separate country roundtables were also held with Japan and Iceland, focusing on cooperation across hydrocarbons, ethanol and biofuels, LNG value chains, geothermal energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS). The ministry said Indian PSUs are already advancing pilot CCS projects, while geothermal exploration opportunities are being examined in regions such as Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Puri said multiple memoranda of understanding were signed during IEW to advance collaboration across LNG, clean energy technologies and low-carbon fuels. These include Indian Oil’s agreement with ENGIE for cooperation in LNG and gas markets, and BPCL’s partnerships with logistics companies to convert diesel fleets to LNG.
He added that such agreements reflect India’s dual strategy of strengthening hydrocarbon security while scaling up cleaner fuels and new energy technologies.
The minister said the government is preparing a policy framework for compressed biogas (CBG), following a two-day conference held during IEW. The policy is expected to build on existing support across the CBG value chain, including biomass aggregation, pipeline infrastructure and market development mechanisms.
He also pointed to emerging technologies showcased at the event, including bio-crude production from seaweed, ethanol from bamboo, AI-enabled drilling solutions and flex-fuel vehicles, as evidence of India’s evolving energy mix.
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