IEW 2026 Day 2: Leaders Spotlight LNG, CGD, Electrification, and India’s Global Energy Role

On the second day of India Energy Week 2026 (IEW 2026), industry leaders, policymakers, and global energy experts spotlighted India’s growing influence in shaping the future of energy systems worldwide.

Discussions emphasised affordability, robust infrastructure, technology-led innovation, and policy alignment as critical drivers for a secure, sustainable, and inclusive energy transition.

During the Leadership Panel on 'Managing Global LNG Supply and Demand Dynamics', Akshay Kumar Singh, MD & CEO of Petronet LNG, highlighted the importance of affordable LNG in promoting widespread natural gas adoption across transport, power generation, and City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks. He noted that LNG prices in the range of USD 6–7/MMBtu are necessary to attract new consumers and ensure a stable long-term demand trajectory.

The Leadership Panel on 'Establishing Global Models for City Gas Distribution Networks' explored drivers for CGD expansion. Goutom Chakraborty, CEO of GAIL Gas Ltd., stressed pipeline connectivity, network scale, and coordinated city-level planning as key to operational efficiency, reliability, and affordability. Abhilesh Gupta, MD & CEO of Indraprastha Gas Ltd., drew on mature CGD markets to highlight PNG and CNG expansion, safety standards, and consumer trust as enablers of sustained adoption. Suresh Manglani, Executive Director & CEO of Adani Total Gas Ltd., proposed a “Prajjwala” approach, emphasising coordinated policy-industry messaging to move beyond access toward sustained clean fuel usage.

Dr. Abderrezak Benyoucef, Head of Energy Studies Department, OPEC, presented insights from the World Oil Outlook 2025, projecting India as the largest contributor to global energy demand growth through 2050. India is expected to add 8.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil demand by 2050, driven by transportation, industrial activity, and petrochemicals. The report forecasts India’s primary energy demand nearly doubling, with oil, gas, and renewables complementing each other in a balanced energy mix. The Outlook also highlighted India’s central role in global economic growth, demographic trends, and energy consumption, emphasizing the need for continued investment across upstream, midstream, and downstream infrastructure.

The Transition Stage Panel on 'Transitioning to an Electrostate' underscored electricity’s critical role in economic growth, energy security, and decarbonization. Panelists included Ahmed Al Kaabi (UAE), Naveen Srivastava (Power Grid Corporation of India), Ghanshyam Prasad (Central Electricity Authority), Suman Chandra (MNRE), and Prince Dhawan (REC Limited). Discussions focused on electrification, grid expansion, digitalisation, and decentralised energy systems as enablers of a resilient and clean power network. Al Kaabi emphasised partnerships and innovation to strengthen grid resilience. Dhawan highlighted initiatives under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), including results-linked investments, smart metering, and governance reforms, which are improving operational and financial health of distribution companies.

India Energy Week (IEW) is India’s flagship global energy platform, bringing together government leaders, industry executives, and innovators to accelerate investment, policy alignment, and technological collaboration for a secure, sustainable, and affordable energy future.