U.S. Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan chaired the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-India Strategic Energy Partnership, in New Delhi.
As a first step in realizing this Partnership, the United States and India announced the U.S.-India Natural Gas Task Force where a team of U.S. and Indian industry experts will propose, develop, and convey, innovative policy recommendations to the Government of India in support of its vision for natural gas in the economy of India.
India is the world’s third largest energy consumer. It sources liquified natural gas (LNG) and oil from the U.S., with Indian firms investing $4 billion in U.S. shale gas assets. Nine of twenty-two million tons per annum of long-term LNG contracts inked by the Indian firms, is from the U.S. Indian firms also sourced twelve million barrels of crude oil from the U.S. over the last six months.
Representatives of Westinghouse made a strong presentation pitch at the meeting. Perry noted that Westinghouse Electric Co. is emerging out of bankruptcy and is capable of delivering the planned six nuclear reactors to India on time. He suggested that India look at “a diverse portfolio” of energy sources to deliver reliable electricity to its growing population and not just at affordability.
