Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan has said the unprecedented obstruction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to the global economic progress had led the country to evaluate the robustness of its energy sector.
“We are at such a point when we have to assess the impact of COVID-led disruptions to global energy sector supply chains and calibrate our approach towards strengthening of India’s energy sector,” said Pradhan.
Speaking at the concluding session of the Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA)Week India Energy Forum on Wednesday evening, Pradhan also extended an invitation to the global industry and experts to become partners in India’s shared prosperity by partnering with the country to enhance production of all forms of energy. He said that inauguration of India Energy Forum by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reflective of the importance the Central Government attached to improving India’s energy security, architecture and energy landscape at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic had adversely impacted the global energy sector.
Pradhan said that Prime Minister Modi had outlined his energy vision for a new energy map of India, with seven key drivers. The oil & gas minister underlined the key message of the prime minister about the rapid strides made by India in the electrification of villages, provision of clean cooking fuel to each and every household and nation-wide supply of LED bulbs, leading to massive energy efficiencies to deliver on the government’s promise of significantly reducing energy poverty in the country.
Pradhan said that in his interaction with CEOs and experts at leading oil & gas companies, the prime minister had highlighted that the government was committed to providing equitable access to clean, affordable and sustainable energy to all Indians and the series of policy reforms underway to make India an attractive investment destination.
Pradhan said the Indian oil & gas sector had made significant strides in recent years. It had risen to the occasion in a commendable manner during these challenging times by ensuring energy supplies, including making clean cooking fuel reach the remotest part of the country.
Pradhan especially thanked Prince Abdulaziz, Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia and Dan Brouillette, US Secretary of Energy for their special inaugural messages in the India Energy Forum, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and Minister of Railways & Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal for joining the event.
Around 40 global CEOs of oil and gas companies as well as Indian CEOs from public and private companies, participated in the India Energy Forum by CERAWeek and presented their views, suggestions and plans for investments in the country. Started in 2017, the forum has become an annual event.
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