India’s energy consumption will return to pre-Covid levels soon, says Dharmendra Pradhan
Addressing the US-India Strategic Partnership forum’s annual leadership summit, Pradhan underlined the importance of energy infrastructure as one of the key ingredients for India’s transformation
NEW DELHI: Oil and steel minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday said India’s energy consumption will return to pre-Covid levels soon as economic activity gradually picks up and invited US industry leaders to take advantage of the opportunities arising from India’s march towards self-reliance.
Addressing the US-India Strategic Partnership forum’s annual leadership summit, Pradhan underlined the importance of energy infrastructure as one of the key ingredients for India’s transformation.
The ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) campaign launched by prime minister Narendra Modi aims to turn Covid-19 challenges into an opportunity, merge domestic production and consumption with global supply chains and transform India into a global manufacturing hub of the 21st century, he said. India is working to transform itself into a gas-based economy by increasing the share of gas from 6% to 15% in the energy mix by 2030 with an estimated investment of $60 billion.
Pradhan said bilateral hydrocarbon trade touched $9 billion in 2019-20 and is expected to increase further as Indian companies.