Washington DC: Indian Union Minister Hardeep Puri recently visited the United States to discuss energy cooperation between the two countries. Puri praised the strong partnership between India and the US in sustainable energy, stating that New Delhi draws great strength from this collaboration. He held discussions with US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, focusing on various aspects of energy including power, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and global biofuel development.
India has made significant progress in ethanol blending in the last decade, achieving its target of 10% blending before schedule. The country now aims to reach 20% blending by 2030. Puri highlighted the potential for numerous Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to be signed between India and the US during his visit. He emphasized the importance of cooperation with the US in the exploration and production sector, inviting global entities to prospect in India’s sedimentary basins.
Addressing the issue of purchasing Russian oil, Puri noted that India has not faced any Western pressure to avoid buying Russian oil. He praised the role of Russian oil trade in keeping global oil prices stable and affordable, highlighting the potential impact if Russia’s oil production had been disrupted. Puri emphasized the importance of price caps on Russian oil purchases to maintain stability in the market and prevent sudden price spikes.
The Indian Union Minister expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation between India and the US on sustainable energy initiatives. He mentioned the recent conference on green hydrogen in Delhi where the US participated as a partner country. Puri emphasized the significance of global collaboration in the energy sector and highlighted the positive outcomes of the US-India strategic Energy Cooperation partnership.
During his visit to Houston, Puri expected to sign several MoUs to enhance energy collaboration between the two countries. He highlighted India’s successful achievements in ethanol blending and the government’s targets for further increasing blending percentages. Puri stressed the importance of international cooperation in achieving sustainable energy goals and expressed optimism about the future of energy cooperation between India and the US.
Overall, Hardeep Puri’s visit to the United States underscored the strong partnership and collaboration between India and the US in the field of sustainable energy. The discussions with US Secretary of Energy focused on various aspects of energy cooperation, including renewable energy, biofuel development, and exploration opportunities. Puri’s emphasis on global collaboration and the potential for future MoUs reflect India’s commitment to advancing sustainable energy initiatives through international partnerships.
