Energy Transition Must Be Backed by Sustained Investment to Ensure Security, Affordability & Sustainability: Hardeep Singh Puri at India Energy Week 2026

India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 commenced today with keynote addresses by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, UAE Minister Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, and Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, setting the tone for global collaboration amid rapid transformation in the energy sector.

Delivering the keynote address, Hardeep Singh Puri underlined that the global energy transition must be viewed as “energy addition, not replacement,” stressing the need for sustained investments across oil, gas, biofuels, LNG, green hydrogen and clean cooking fuels to ensure energy security, affordability and sustainability.

He highlighted India’s steady progress towards energy self-reliance and climate justice under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, noting that India Energy Week has quickly evolved into a trusted global forum connecting policymakers, producers, consumers, technology providers and investors.

The Minister detailed India’s reforms-driven strategy, including the opening of large sedimentary basins for exploration, successive Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) and Discovered Small Fields (DSF) bidding rounds, and continuous policy reforms aimed at attracting global investment.

Puri also pointed to India’s rapid expansion of LPG coverage, clean cooking access and a diversified energy mix as evidence of the country’s commitment to inclusive growth and equitable energy access.

Addressing the gathering, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Group CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said global energy demand is entering a phase of transformation at scale, driven by emerging markets, digitalisation and integrated energy systems. He noted that India lies at the heart of these megatrends and will be a decisive driver of global energy demand in the coming decades.

Dr. Al Jaber warned that underinvestment poses the greatest risk to the global energy system, calling for balanced investment across all energy sources. Highlighting the UAE–India energy partnership, he reaffirmed ADNOC’s role as a reliable supplier of crude, LNG and LPG to India, while stressing the importance of long-term, trust-based collaborations.

Welcoming delegates, Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant said IEW 2026 has emerged as a global platform that converts ideas into action. He showcased Goa’s sustainability vision, including a roadmap to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050, while emphasising the need to balance the green economy with the blue economy.

The inaugural session reinforced India’s position as a responsible global energy leader, with strong emphasis on international cooperation, innovation and investment mobilisation as key enablers for accelerating the global energy transition.