India to fuel 25% of global energy demand growth in 2 decades: Hardeep Puri
Synopsis
India is on course to absorb nearly one-quarter of all new global energy demand over the next 20 years — a projection that transforms it from a price-taker in world energy markets into a genuine agenda-setter. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri made the case directly to 70 rising policy and research leaders in New Delhi, framing India's scale not as a burden but as leverage.
Key Takeaways
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on 27 September 2026 said India will account for nearly 25% of global energy demand growth over the next two decades .
India is currently the world's third-largest energy consumer , third-largest crude oil importer , and fourth-largest oil refiner .
Puri credited PM Narendra Modi 's leadership for diversifying India's energy basket and maintaining uninterrupted fuel supplies amid global geopolitical turbulence.
The remarks were made at the Rising Leaders Programme in New Delhi , organised by the ILead Global Foundation and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung India Office .
The minister expressed confidence that India's young professionals would drive innovation in energy and sustainability sectors going forward.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday, 27 September 2026, said that India is poised to account for nearly 25 per cent of global energy demand growth over the next two decades, cementing its position as one of the most consequential players in the world's energy future. Puri made the remarks while engaging with participants of the Rising Leaders Programme in New Delhi, organised jointly by the ILead Global Foundation and the India Office of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
Key Figures That Define India's Energy Standing
Puri underscored India's already formidable footprint in global energy markets, describing the country as the world's third-largest energy consumer, the third-largest importer of crude oil, and the fourth-largest oil refiner. These rankings, he argued, make India not merely a consumer of global energy trends but an active shaper of them. The minister stressed that this scale of participation gives India significant leverage in international energy policy discussions.
India's Energy Transformation Under Modi Government
During his address to nearly 70 young professionals and researchers drawn from diverse disciplines, Puri highlighted India's energy achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that the country has successfully diversified its energy basket and strengthened energy security. He pointed to India's ability to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies even amid intense geopolitical uncertainties and volatility in global energy markets — a resilience he attributed to deliberate policy choices. The minister said India has prioritised making energy accessible, affordable and sustainable for its citizens throughout this period of global turbulence.
Why the Rising Leaders Engagement Matters
The Rising Leaders Programme, a platform that brings together emerging professionals and researchers across sectors, served as the backdrop for Puri's remarks. The choice of forum is notable: by addressing young energy and policy thinkers, the minister was signalling that India's energy transition narrative is increasingly being projected as a story of opportunity and leadership rather than merely compliance with global climate frameworks. This comes amid growing international attention on how major emerging economies manage the twin imperatives of energy security and decarbonisation.
India's Role in Shaping Future Energy Policy
Puri expressed confidence that India's young professionals and researchers would play a pivotal role in driving innovation across energy, sustainability, and allied sectors. He framed their participation in such programmes as directly linked to India's rising influence in global affairs — a broader diplomatic and economic argument that positions India's energy story within its larger narrative of strategic ambition. Notably, India's energy consumption trajectory makes it a critical variable in any credible global net-zero pathway, giving New Delhi increasing clout in forums such as the G20 and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
With energy demand projections of this scale, India's policy choices on the speed of its clean-energy transition will have consequences well beyond its own borders — and well beyond the next two decades.
Point of View
But the more consequential question it raises is whether India's energy transition will match its energy appetite. Being the world's third-largest consumer and third-largest crude importer gives India diplomatic clout — but it also means that any delay in clean-energy scaling locks in fossil-fuel dependency at global scale. The framing of India's energy story as one of 'resilience and transformation' conveniently sidesteps the tension between energy security (which has leaned heavily on coal and oil imports) and the decarbonisation timelines that India has committed to internationally. Young professionals at forums like the Rising Leaders Programme will need to grapple with that contradiction, not just celebrate the headline numbers.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Hardeep Singh Puri say about India's global energy role?
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India is expected to account for nearly 25% of global energy demand growth over the next two decades, making it one of the most influential forces in shaping the world's energy future. He described India as the world's third-largest energy consumer, third-largest crude oil importer, and fourth-largest oil refiner.
Where did Hardeep Puri make these remarks?
Puri made the remarks at the Rising Leaders Programme in New Delhi on 27 September 2026, an event organised by the ILead Global Foundation and the India Office of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. He engaged with nearly 70 young professionals and researchers from diverse fields.
Why is India considered a key player in global energy markets?
India's status as the world's third-largest energy consumer, third-largest crude importer, and fourth-largest refiner means its demand and policy choices directly influence global supply chains, pricing, and energy policy frameworks. With 25% of projected global demand growth concentrated in one country, India's energy decisions have outsized international consequences.
What has India done to strengthen its energy security?
According to Minister Puri, India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has diversified its energy basket, strengthened energy security, and ensured uninterrupted fuel supplies despite global geopolitical tensions and market volatility. The government has also focused on making energy accessible, affordable, and sustainable for citizens.
What is the Rising Leaders Programme?
The Rising Leaders Programme is a platform that brings together emerging professionals and researchers across sectors, co-organised by the ILead Global Foundation and the India Office of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. The New Delhi session on 27 September 2026 drew nearly 70 participants from diverse disciplines to discuss India's energy transformation and global influence.
