Manohar Lal highlights India’s energy progress
Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal participated in the G20 Energy Abundance Working Group meetings in Houston on September 15, highlighting India’s efforts to build a secure and resilient energy system. He said India has reached 552 GW of installed power capacity, with non-fossil sources accounting for more than 50 per cent. He also highlighted progress in solar power, energy storage, nuclear energy and clean cooking access. The Minister stressed India’s support for technology-neutral and inclusive energy pathways and highlighted initiatives including the International Solar Alliance, One Sun One World One Grid and the Global Biofuels Alliance.
Focus on faster approvals and energy infrastructure
Manohar Lal also highlighted reforms aimed at making project approvals faster and more predictable. These include digital platforms such as the National Single Window System, PARIVESH and PM Gati Shakti. He said efficient permitting is important for timely infrastructure development and called for greater G20 cooperation in capacity building and regulatory modernization.
Talks with US Energy Secretary
During his meeting with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Manohar Lal discussed India’s growing power infrastructure requirements linked to artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and data centres. The two sides also discussed India’s nuclear expansion roadmap and reaffirmed cooperation under the US-India Energy Security Partnership, with focus on clean energy, resilient infrastructure and emerging technologies.
Energy cooperation with Canada
Manohar Lal also met Canadian Parliamentary Secretary Corey Hogan to discuss cooperation in energy efficiency, low-emission technologies and offshore exploration under the Samundra Manthan scheme. He encouraged Canadian companies to participate in India’s expanding exploration and production sector and explore opportunities in emerging energy technologies.
India’s future energy strategy
The Minister reiterated India’s focus on diversifying energy sources, expanding clean and reliable baseload capacity and adopting emerging technologies.India’s participation in the Houston meeting comes as the G20 discusses energy security, affordability, infrastructure development and resilient energy supply chains.
