Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, held high-level discussions with key international energy figures during the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna. The talks focused on deepening energy ties and ensuring long-term energy stability for India, which relies heavily on imports to meet its growing fuel requirements.
India, the third-largest oil consumer globally, currently imports over 85% of its crude oil and nearly half of its natural gas due to limited domestic production. During the summit, Minister Puri met with Kuwait’s Oil Minister and Chairman of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), Tareq Sulaiman Al-Roumi, to explore opportunities for closer cooperation. Kuwait remains India’s 6th largest source of crude, 4th in LPG supply, and holds the 8th position among India’s hydrocarbon trade partners, reflecting the strategic weight of the relationship.
In a separate meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, both sides discussed expanding hydrocarbon trade and further reinforcing long-standing commercial and energy partnerships. Indian refiners are regular buyers of Nigerian crude, making energy cooperation with Nigeria a key focus.
Mr Puri also met with Shell CEO Wael Sawan to explore joint efforts in oil and gas exploration. With India offering a record number of oil and gas blocks for exploration, the minister highlighted the country’s goal to increase natural gas usage from 6% to 15% in its overall energy mix. He emphasized that India’s exploration initiatives could greatly benefit from Shell’s advanced technologies, potentially laying the foundation for deeper collaboration.
During his meeting with OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, Mr Puri reiterated the importance of maintaining balanced and predictable oil markets. Discussions focused on ensuring energy security while supporting the shift toward greener and alternative fuels amid global uncertainties. As one of the largest oil importers, India shares a crucial relationship with OPEC, built on mutual interests.
Further talks were held with BP CEO Murray Auchincloss, where the focus remained on enhancing BP’s role in both upstream and downstream sectors in India. BP has been an active player in the Indian energy landscape and has previously participated in energy bidding rounds.
Lastly, Minister Puri engaged with Russel Hardy, CEO of Vitol Group, to review current global market conditions and explore cooperation across the hydrocarbons sector. Discussions centered on India’s massive investments in expanding energy infrastructure, including exploration, refining, and transitioning toward cleaner fuel alternatives such as natural gas.
