Inaugurating the world’s second-largest energy event – India Energy Week 2025 – in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that new gas discoveries and growing pipeline infrastructure had pushed up the use of natural gas by Indians.

He added that the Union Budget unveiled earlier this month had removed import duties on critical minerals, including cobalt powder, lithium-ion battery waste, lead and zinc.

Focussing on the global industry, the prime minister urged them to explore business opportunities to build a strong supply chain in India, while also highlighting the country’s National Critical Minerals Mission.

“India has thrown open a vast range of investment possibilities in its energy sector… We have also opened the nuclear energy sector to foreign participation. Every investment being made in energy is creating opportunities for green jobs,” said Modi to a gathering of CEOs of Fortune 500 energy companies, heads of international energy organisations, and 70,000 delegates present at the four-day event that concludes on February 14.

Regarding the Oilfields Regulation and Development Act, Modi said that India had made sweeping changes to the Act, to provide extended leases and improved financial terms to investors.

“Due to these reforms by the government, the work of exploring oil and gas resources in the marine area, increasing their production and maintaining strategic petroleum reserves will become easier,” he said. – editor@nrifocus.com