**Executive Summary**
The document reports on the second day of India Energy Week (IEW) 2026, highlighting India's growing role in shaping the global energy landscape. Discussions focused on affordability, robust infrastructure, technology-led innovation, and policy alignment as critical for a secure, sustainable, and inclusive energy future. A key report, the World Oil Outlook 2025, projects India as the largest contributor to global energy demand growth through 2050.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Overarching Themes:**
* Affordability, robust infrastructure, technology-led innovation, and policy alignment are essential for a secure, sustainable, and inclusive energy future.
* India's growing role as a global energy driver necessitates coordinated policy, investment, and technological innovation.
* **LNG Supply and Demand:**
* LNG affordability is critical for expanding natural gas adoption in India.
* LNG prices between USD 6-7/MMBtu are desirable to attract new consumers.
* **City Gas Distribution (CGD) Networks:**
* Expansion drivers include pipeline connectivity, network scale, and coordinated trunk and city-level planning.
* PNG and CNG expansion, safety standards, and consumer trust are key enablers.
* "Prajjwala" approach advocated for sustained use of cleaner fuels.
* **World Oil Outlook 2025:**
* India is projected as the largest contributor to global energy demand growth through 2050.
* India's oil demand is expected to increase by 8.2 million barrels per day by 2050.
* India's primary energy demand will nearly double, with oil, gas, and renewables complementing each other.
* Continued investment in upstream, midstream, and downstream infrastructure is critical.
* **Transitioning to an Electrostate:**
* Electrification, grid expansion, and digitalization are crucial for a clean and resilient energy system.
* Partnerships, innovation, and decentralised energy systems enhance grid resilience.
* Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) strengthens power distribution companies through results-linked investments, smart metering, and governance reforms.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Industry Leaders and Policymakers**
* **Impact:** Need to focus on the critical pillars shaping India's energy transition, including LNG affordability, robust CGD networks, electrification, and long-term energy demand.
* **Action Required:** Coordinated messaging between policymakers and industry is needed to move beyond access toward sustained use of cleaner fuels.
**Stakeholder: Petronet LNG**
* **Impact:** Highlighted affordability is key to expanding natural gas adoption in India, particularly across transport, power generation, and city gas distribution.
* **Action Required:** Attract new consumers by keeping LNG prices in the range of USD 6–7/MMBtu to enable a stable, long-term demand trajectory.
**Stakeholder: City Gas Distribution (CGD) Companies**
* **Impact:** Expansion requires pipeline connectivity, network scale, and coordinated planning.
* **Action Required:** Focus on PNG and CNG expansion, maintain safety standards, and build consumer trust for sustained adoption.
**Stakeholder: Power Grid Corporation of India, Central Electricity Authority, MNRE, REC Limited**
* **Impact:** Highlighted electrification, grid expansion, and digitalization as critical enablers of a clean and resilient energy system.
* **Action Required:** Enable smarter and more resilient grids through initiatives under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
Key Entities Referenced
India Energy Week (IEW) 2026: A flagship global energy platform for India, focusing on energy transition, affordability, and sustainability.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas: The government ministry responsible for petroleum and natural gas-related matters in India.
City Gas Distribution (CGD): A network for distributing natural gas to urban consumers and businesses.
Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS): An initiative to transform India's power distribution sector through investments, smart metering, and governance reforms.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
IEW 2026: Second Day of India Energy Week
2026 Highlights India’s Central Role in Shaping
the Landscape of Global Energy Systems
Affordability, robust infrastructure, technology-led innovation,
and policy alignment emerged as common themes critical for
a secure, sustainable, and inclusive energy future.
प्रव तथ: 28 JAN 2026 8:55PM by PIB Delhi
On the second day of India Energy Week 2026, industry leaders and policymakers focused on the critical
pillars shaping India’s energy transition, including LNG affordability, robust City Gas Distribution (CGD)
networks, electrification, and long-term energy demand. Across high-level panels and discussions,
speakers highlighted India’s growing role as a global energy driver and the importance of coordinated
policy, investment, and technological innovation.
During the Leadership Panel on Managing Global LNG Supply and Demand Dynamics, Shri Akshay
Kumar Singh, Managing Director and CEO, Petronet LNG, underscored that affordability is key to
expanding natural gas adoption in India, particularly across transport, power generation, and city gas
distribution. He noted that LNG prices in the range of USD 6–7/MMBtu are essential to attract new
consumers and enable a stable, long-term demand trajectory.
In a riveting discussion later in the day, the Leadership Panel on Establishing Global Models for City Gas
Distribution Networks explored the drivers for expanding CGD networks. Shri Goutom Chakraborty,
CEO, GAIL Gas Limited, highlighted the importance of pipeline connectivity, network scale, and
coordinated trunk and city-level planning to ensure operational efficiency, reliability, and affordability.
Shri Abhilesh Gupta, MD and CEO, Indraprastha Gas Limited, shared insights from mature CGD markets,
emphasizing PNG and CNG expansion, safety standards, and consumer trust as key enablers for sustained
adoption. Shri Suresh Manglani, Executive Director and CEO, Adani Total Gas Limited, called for
coordinated messaging between policymakers and industry, proposing a “Prajjwala” approach to move
beyond access toward sustained use of cleaner fuels.
During an insightful presentation, Dr. Abderrezak Benyoucef, Head, Energy Studies Department, Research
Division, OPEC, delved into the details of the World Oil Outlook 2025, projecting India as the largest
contributor to global energy demand growth through 2050. India is expected to add 8.2 million barrels per
day of oil demand by 2050, driven by transportation, industrial activity, and petrochemicals. The report
projects India’s primary energy demand to nearly double, with oil, gas, and renewables complementing
each other in a balanced energy mix.
The Outlook also emphasized India’s central role in global economic growth, demographic trends, and
energy consumption, reinforcing the need for continued investment in upstream, midstream, and
downstream infrastructure.The Leadership Panel at the Transition Stage on Transitioning to an Electrostate explored the centrality of
electricity in India’s economic growth, energy security, and decarbonization efforts. Panelists, including
H.E. Ahmed Al Kaabi (UAE), Shri Naveen Srivastava (Power Grid Corporation of India), Shri
Ghanshyam Prasad (Central Electricity Authority), Ms. Suman Chandra (MNRE), and Shri Prince
Dhawan (REC Limited), highlighted electrification, grid expansion, and digitalisation as critical enablers
of a clean and resilient energy system.
H.E. Ahmed Al Kaabi emphasized partnerships, innovation, and decentralised energy systems in
enhancing grid resilience. Shri Prince Dhawan detailed the transformation of India’s power distribution
sector through initiatives under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), noting that results-
linked investments, smart metering, and governance reforms are strengthening the operational and
financial health of distribution companies, enabling smarter and more resilient grids.
About India Energy Week
India Energy Week is the country’s flagship global energy platform, bringing together government
leaders, industry executives, and innovators to accelerate progress toward a secure, sustainable, and
affordable energy future. As a neutral international forum, IEW drives investment, policy alignment, and
technological collaboration shaping the global energy landscape.
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MN
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