Letter from India: Fast-tracking a global all-energy approach

The thrum of the government’s comprehensive energy internationalism could be seen in the flurry of deals and partnerships at India Energy Week amid a mission to meet the economy’s insatiable appetite

India is fast becoming the world’s most important energy consumer. The emphatic and unapologetic message resonating from India Energy Week (IEW) in Delhi was that the government is creating the ideal conditions for companies to drill, pump, blow, burn and transform as many sources of energy as possible. The oil and gas sector is its beating heart. The world’s most populous nation is set to drive around 25% of global oil demand growth over the next two decades. The country already consumes more than 5.5m b/d of oil, and an expanding city-dwelling population will see that growth accelerate—especially in petrochemicals. India's refining capacity now stands at 256.8mt, making it the fourth-large