Indian companies keen on equity stakes in US LNG projects: Hardeep Singh Puri

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• Indian firms seek equity in US LNG projects under construction or near investment.
• India and US discuss energy trade, tech partnerships at India Energy Week
• India invites Japanese oil firms to collaborate on ethanol and biofuels.

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In its effort to deepen energy ties with the US, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said that Indian companies are interested in equity participation in LNG liquefaction projects in the US, particularly those under construction or nearing final investment decision.

The US is already the country’s sixth largest energy trade partner, with hydrocarbon trade reaching over $13.7 billion in the fiscal year 2024-25.

During the ongoing India Energy Week, the two countries discussed enhancing the bilateral trade including crude, LNG and LPG.

Puri also highlighted that the US and India possess comparative advantages that offer a chance to develop a critical minerals sector.

“US companies are partnering actively in India’s energy sector, across the exploration and production value chain,” Puri told reporters during the India Energy Week 2026. The two sides also discussed technology partnership potential with the US in areas like CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage) and hydrogen.

US companies are looking to invest in India in E&P and looking as a strong trading partner for gas, the oil minister said.

Further, India is also looking to advance bilateral cooperation with Japan in the energy sector. India has further invited Japanese oil companies for participating in ongoing OALP X (Open Acreage Licensing Policy) round.

“We had an India-Japan roundtable on opportunities for collaboration across the energy value chain,” Puri said, adding that ethanol and biofuels emerged as a priority collaboration area, with India offering surplus ethanol capacity, diversified feedstocks such as UCO, and significant progress on blending targets. ⁠

Multiple opportunities across the gas and low-carbon fuel ecosystem, spanning LNG value chains, city gas distribution, and biomethane/CBG development was also discussed.

In addition, the two countries also discussed collaboration opportunities across automation, digitalization, AI-enabled predictive analytics, SCADA systems, and advanced instrumentation to enhance efficiency across oil and gas and new energy segments.

Puri said that Yokogawa Electric Corporation, a Japanese multinational electrical engineering and software company, has already shown strong interest to enhance investment in India.

He also noted that global and domestic companies have expressed strong confidence in India’s growth trajectory and conveyed their keen interest in expanding and deepening their business presence in India.

The country imports energy from 40 sources and LNG from 18 sources; while it exports petroleum products to more than 150 nations.