“World’s second-largest energy conclave saw announcement of largest-ever exploration bid round, charted path for green energy transition while strengthening international partnerships” – Hardeep Singh Puri
Enhanced interest in this round has been driven by systematic reforms in the regulatory regime, transitioning from production to revenue sharing mechanisms, along with the proposed amendments to Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act 1948.
The third edition of India Energy Week 2025, which was organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in New Delhi last week, saw unprecedented participation and exhibitor numbers and submission of technical papers. Briefing newspersons on the completion of the initiative, Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, noted within a short span of three years, India Energy Week had established itself as the world’s second-largest energy platform, with its fourth edition scheduled to take place in Goa.
He said that the event had exceeded expectations by encompassing a comprehensive range of sectors including petroleum, natural gas, green energy, biofuel, and CBG, showcasing remarkably innovative developments.
The Minister emphasised that IEW 2025 distinguished itself from other global energy forums by facilitating actual business transactions rather than merely serving as a networking platform. Puri specifically highlighted practical innovations such as the cost-effective conversion kit demonstrated at the HPCL stall, designed for enabling biofuel usage in two and three-wheelers. Additionally, the Minister also expressed satisfaction at the convergence of investors, manufacturers, and consumers, particularly evident in the display of flex fuel vehicles.
Speaking on India-US energy cooperation, the Minister noted the substantial progress in bilateral relations, particularly in the natural gas sector. The Minister highlighted India’s stated goal of increasing natural gas consumption to 15 per cent in its energy mix from about 6 per cent currently, emphasising the strategic importance of the relationship with the United States for Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) supplies.
Addressing reforms in the Exploration and Production (E&P) sector, Puri detailed the scale of Open Acreage Licensing Programme (OALP) Round X covering about 200,000 square kilometers. The Minister explained that enhanced interest in this round has been driven by systematic reforms in the regulatory regime, transitioning from production to revenue sharing mechanisms, along with the proposed amendments to Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act 1948.
Additionally, Puri announced that the new legislative framework, developed through extensive consultations, is set to be presented in the Lok Sabha. He particularly noted the collaboration of ONGC with BP, and Reliance in bidding for blocks in earlier rounds as a strong message of industry partnership.
Outlining the Ministry’s priorities, the Minister emphasised the focus on E&P, stressing the importance of expert collaboration and the proposed changes to regulatory framework that allows appropriate compensation for resource discovery to the stakeholders in the sector.
The Minister highlighted the significance of the amendments, passed by the Rajya Sabha, in ensuring policy predictability, particularly regarding windfall tax implementation. He emphasised the removal of discretionary elements in policy implementation as a move toward more transparent governance in the energy sector.
Discussing the global energy scenario, the Minister observed that the new US administration’s push for increased oil supply has created favourable conditions in global markets. He noted the emergence of new oil sources from the Western Hemisphere, including Brazil, Argentina, Suriname, Canada, US, and Guyana, as beneficial for major consuming nations like India. Puri expressed confidence in India’s international investments in the oil & gas assets across Brazil, Venezuela, Russia, and Mozambique.
Puri described the biofuel programme as a remarkable story, citing current capacity of 1,700 crore liters for ethanol blending, while discussing potential beyond the 20 per cent blending target. The Minister expressed excitement about green hydrogen, confirming confident progression toward the 5 mmt annual production target for 2030, while also highlighting sustainable aviation fuel development.
Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Pankaj Jain, detailed the business conducted during IEW 2025 across various domains. He categorised the agreements into distinct areas: supply arrangements for crude, LNG, and LPG across geographies; technology partnerships for digital refinery solutions; and exploration services. Jain also highlighted the unprecedented scale of OALP Round X, emphasising the need for global expertise to exploit hydrocarbon resources in the country. He also discussed the potential use of the Oil Industry Development Fund, established under the Oil Industry Development Act, for innovative financing needs in deep-water exploration projects.
Energising young turks
The prestigious Avinya’25 – Energy Start-up Challenge awards, the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, were presented by Puri and Jain. Avinya’25 recognised start-ups with pioneering solutions addressing key energy challenges.
UrjanovaC Pvt Ltd emerged as the winner for its synthetic catalyst technology that enables scalable and cost-competitive CO₂ capture and conversion. The first runner-up, Breathe ESG Private Limited, developed a SaaS platform that automates ESG reporting, decarbonisation strategies, and compliance.
AgriVijay, the second runner-up, introduced India’s first curated marketplace for renewable energy solutions for farmers and rural households. Apeiro Energy, securing the third runner-up position, designed hybrid microgrids by integrating small wind turbines with solar panels. UGreen Technology, the fourth runner-up, developed a molecular-engineering approach that enhances CO₂ reactivity for efficient carbon capture.
Additionally, the Ministry introduced Vasudha – Oil and Gas Startup Challenge, an exclusive competition for overseas start-ups revolutionising the upstream oil and gas sector. Out of 17 entries from 13 countries, two visionary start-ups were recognised.
Latin Energy Partners Inc., Paraguay, won the challenge, while Ultrasound Process Consultation LLC, USA, was named the runner-up. Their innovations in oil and gas exploration, AI-driven production management, ESG compliance, CCUS technologies, and geothermal exploration were highly commended. Promoting research and technological innovation, a Hackathon was organised among seven premier IITs, including IIT Delhi, Mumbai, Madras, Guwahati, Roorkee, Kharagpur, and ISM Dhanbad. The competition aimed to drive forward-thinking solutions in CCUS and renewable energy. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad secured the winner’s title, while IIT Guwahati emerged as the runner-up.
