Parliament Question: Hydrocarbon security and energy transition strategy

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 1900 ANSWERED ON –09/03/2026 HYDROCARBON SECURITY AND ENERGY TRANSITION STRATEGY 1900. SHRI. LAHAR SINGH SIROYA: SHRI NARHARI AMIN SHRI ASHOKRAO SHANKARRAO CHAVAN SHRI DEEPAK PRAKASH SHRI CHUNNILAL GARASIYA Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state: - a) the projected demand for crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products in the country during the next 10–15 years in view of India’s projected growth in overall energy consumption; b) the steps being taken to strengthen long-term hydrocarbon supply security, including diversification of import sources, strategic petroleum reserves expansion and promotion of domestic exploration and production; c) whether the hydrocarbon sector reforms are being aligned with India’s broader energy transition goals, particularly in the context of rising share of non-fossil fuel electricity and sustainable commitments; and d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI) (a) to (d) India is expected to remain a major driver of global energy demand growth through 2035, propelled by its robust economic trajectory. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), India will contribute over 40% of the global increase in oil demand and about 8% of the growth in natural gas demand between 2024 and 2035, while OPEC estimates India’s share at approximately 23% for oil and 10% for gas over the same period. Government have taken multiple steps to mitigate risk of supply disruption and to maintain uninterrupted energy supply chains during geopolitical uncertainties. This includes diversifying crude oil import sources, bypassing conflict zone and strengthening diplomatic engagements with major oil producing countries and international organisations like International Energy Agency (IEA), Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and International Energy Forum (IEF). Government through a Special Purpose Vehicle called Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL), have established Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) facilities with total capacity of 5.33 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) which can act as buffer for short-term supply shocks. To further augment the Petroleum Reserves’ capacity, Government, in July 2021, had also approved the establishment of two additional facilities with total storage capacity of 6.5 MMT out of which 4 MMT at Chandikhol in Odisha and 2.5 MMT at Padur, Karnataka on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Page | 1Government have implemented various initiatives aligned with India’s broader energy transition goals to promote domestic Exploration and Production and alternative fuels such as biofuels, green hydrogen, compressed biogas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), energy efficiency and electric mobility, which inter-alia include achieving 20% ethanol blending under the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP), and broadening the scope of feedstock to enhance the availability of ethanol. Government have launched Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) in 2016. Under this policy, Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) was started. During the last three years, 38 exploration blocks under OALP bid Round VIII and IX covering 1,72,912.95 Square Kilometer in the country have been awarded. The Pradhan Mantri Jaiv Indhan-Vatavaran Anukool Fasal Awashesh Nivaran (PM JI-VAN) Yojana has been launched to provide financial assistance for setting up projects for advanced biofuels, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). For the promotion of Compressed Biogas (CBG), the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme has been launched, and schemes like BAM (Biomass Aggregation Machinery) and DPI (Direct Pipeline Infrastructure) have been introduced to support biomass aggregation and to connect CBG plants to the existing pipeline network. National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) has been launched with the objective of production of 5 MMTPA green hydrogen by 2030. Government have also taken various steps to augment the availability of LNG for various sectors which, inter-alia, includes establishment of LNG infrastructure including LNG terminals and LNG stations. Refineries are included in PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) energy efficiency improvement scheme of Government. Ministry of Heavy industries have sanctioned Rs. 873.5 Cr to PSU Oil Marketing companies (OMCs) under FAME II Subsidy scheme for setting up 8,932 Electric Vehicle Charging stations (EVCS), in addition 18,706 EVCS have been setup by OMCs at their ROs from their own funds. In all 27,638 numbers of EVCS have been set up across the country; out of which 20,886 EVCS have been energized. ****** Page | 2