US to Promote Gas Use in India

The US is looking to work with India on further sales of crude and exploring opportunities to expand the role of natural gas in the south Asian nation, MaryKay Carlson, chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in New Delhi said October 2.

She was speaking on the occasion of arrival of US crude at the Paradip Port in the eastern Indian state of Odisha October 2.

This marked one of the first shipments to India since the US stopped oil exports in 1975, and follows recent commitments to US oil purchases by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL). IOC and BPCL have placed orders for over 2mn barrels from the US. The crude oil shipments to India have the potential to boost bilateral trade by up to $2bn, the US Embassy in New Delhi said.

“This event marks a significant milestone in the growing partnership between the United States and India.  The United States and India are elevating our cooperation in the field of energy, including plans for cleaner fossil fuels, renewables, nuclear, and cutting edge storage and energy efficiency technologies,” Carlson said.

During their June 26 meeting in Washington, President Donald Trump and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi committed to expanding and elevating bilateral energy cooperation through a Strategic Energy Partnership.

Recently, Indian coalbed methane explorer Prabha Energy won a US Trade & Development Agency grant to fund a feasibility study relating to developing coalbed methane resources in India. Prabha has selected Virginia based Advanced Resources International to carry out the feasibility study.

Shardul Sharma