Editorial: Democracies Must Have Cheaper Energy, or Autocracies Will Dominate Global Economy; Energy to Enhance Peace and Reduce Inflation & Climate – US-India SCEP Sec. Jennifer Granholm & Minister Hardeep Singh Puri; and Minister Puri in Houston Texas – the world’s capital of Oil and Gas – brings India & United States closer together!
October 13, 2022 – Part 4 – Press Note issued Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas after visit by India’s Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, given that what India buys from Russia in three months is about what the European Union buys in an afternoon.
On February 4, 2022 in Beijing, President Putin and President Xi Jinping entered into a world changing “No Limits” partnership with “no forbidden zones.” Russia’s proxy war against us and our NATO allies started on February 24th. That President Putin believes he has exhibited patience of a Saint over twenty years to restructure a new paradigm – “security for all” – is relevant to his partial motive and to reassure us that he is calibrated, no matter his military’s continuing debacle, on a near daily basis, in Ukraine due to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s unexpected Churchillian “line in the rock”: “I don’t need a ride; I need ammunition.” That every Ukranian has become “brave Horatius” is why Ukraine is now Russia’s Vietnam on steroids. A headache that will remain an un-needed migraine for decades if a just and fair Peace is not negotiated soon.
In mid-September in Samarkand during SCO Summit, both President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke publicly and privately got commitment from President Putin that was salutary. After all, both autocracies and democracies must protect their economies from hyperinflation in food and energy if any government is to survive – a warning our Abraham Lincoln made clear to all governments in his Gettysburg Address.
In that context, China first, Hungary second, and India after-the-War secured cheaper energy from Russia. Autocracy and Democracies unite for cheaper energy. Our President Biden has done a yeoman’s job to protect everyday hardworking Americans from suffering the boomerang effect of our Russia-Sanctions after February 24th Invasion. In fact, our Midterm Elections are affected by the economy and Covid- and war-based resulting recession.
We look forward to Minister Puri’s continued engagement with our government and private sector to enhance United States becoming an even greater Energy Partner with India, beyond the already heady $20 billion buy of American Energy by India.
We – the United States – need to do more with India so as to offset the No Limits Partnership between Russia and China, while welcoming both China and India (along with proven “Black Sea Grain” efforts by Turkey’s President Erdogan & SG Guterres) to help bring this War to an end and prevent Armageddon, a closer possibility given Russian conventional war ineptitude, while restoring to Ukraine her sovereignty and territorial integrity. It can be done. I’ve proposed a 6 Point Peace Plan.
So, the indomitable PM Modi’s get-it-done Minister Hardeep Singh Puri must be welcomed by every American such that India feels in fact and deed to be our American “No Limits” Partner, and then, the Democracies win!
Ravi Batra, Co-publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Here, then, is the Press Note issued Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas after visit by India’s Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to Houston, Texas:
October 12, 2022
Addressing a roundtable on “Opportunities in the India-US Strategic Partnership” at Houston, Texas, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri. Hardeep S. Puri, remarked that 25% of global energy demand growth in the next 2 decades is going to emanate out of India. He noted that India’s energy strategy is mindful of commitments to the global commons, to Green Transition and to ensure Energy Availability, Affordability and Security to all. India had taken many steps towards low carbon development, including through emerging fuels like hydrogen and bio-fuels. He emphasised that despite the current challenging energy environment, India’s commitment to energy transitions and its climate mitigation goals, is not going to diminish.
Shri Hardeep S. Puri chaired a roundtable on “Opportunities in the India-US Strategic Partnership” organized by US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. The roundtable brought together over 60 participants from 35 companies, including Senior leadership of energy majors like Exxonmobil, Chevron, Chieniere, Lanzatech, Honeywell, BakerHughes, Emerson, Tellurian to name a few. Indian Energy PSUs also attended the event.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that India was undertaking major reforms to rationalize and incentivise Exploration & Production by reducing the no-go areas by 99% opening up approx. 1 million sq kms, making good quality geological data available through the National Depository Registry etc.
As a gesture of commitment of GOI to E & P sector, the special Coal-bed Methane (CBM) round & offshore bid rounds in the oil and gas capital of the world (Houston) offering over 2.3 Sq lakh km, after opening up over 1 million sq kms of No Go areas recently, was launched by the Minister.
In a series of tweets, Shri Hardeep Puri stated that the immense potential between the two countries in areas of biofuels, gas based economy, green hydrogen, petrochemicals & upstream sectors is evident and is being furthered by collaboration by our private sector companies. He further stated, “Due to reform measures by Modi Govt, there is unprecedented interest in Indian E&P by global oil companies.”
The discussion was concluded with broad-based support from the participants to push forth with potential partnerships which will bring the best-in-class technologies in both traditional energies and new energies to India.