India and OPEC agree to deepen energy partnership, emphasize energy security

New Delhi, Sept. 22  India and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to further strengthen energy cooperation at a high-level meeting held in the national capital on Tuesday. Both sides emphasized the need to deepen mutual cooperation in view of the changing global energy landscape and increasing energy demand.

The meeting was co-chaired by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais.

An official statement said that the meeting discussed in detail issues such as global oil market stability, energy security, and the need for adequate and timely investment in the oil industry. Both sides also reviewed the short-term, medium-term, and long-term outlook for the energy market and underlined India’s important role in global economic growth and energy demand.

Hardeep Singh Puri commended OPEC’s efforts to maintain stability and transparency in global energy markets amid geopolitical uncertainties and market volatility. He stated that India and OPEC should work together to develop a balanced, stable, and predictable global energy market.

Puri stated that the relationship between India and OPEC is inherently complementary and mutually beneficial. He emphasized that India attaches great importance to its long-standing cooperation with OPEC and its member countries, which has strengthened mutual understanding and cooperation on key energy sector issues.

He stated, “As one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, India will remain a significant driver of global energy demand in the coming decades. Continued dialogue between producing and consuming countries is essential to promote investment, strengthen energy resilience, and ensure reliable energy supplies for global growth.”

OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais stated that dialogue with India is among the organization’s priorities, as India’s importance in the current global energy landscape is constantly increasing and will only strengthen in the coming years.

He said, “The OPEC-India Energy Dialogue has completed 11 years. It was launched in New Delhi in 2015, and this cooperation has continued to grow stronger.”

Al Ghais also praised India’s balanced, pragmatic, and realistic approach to addressing energy challenges. He said that many of India’s energy priorities are in line with OPEC’s priorities.

He praised the Indian government’s commitment to international cooperation and dialogue, noting that India has consistently supported dialogue and diplomatic efforts to address global challenges.

During the meeting, both sides also agreed that the 8th High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-India Energy Dialogue will be held in Vienna at a mutually convenient date.