Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with expanding access to energy in India, while highlighting the strengthening relationship between New Delhi and Canberra.
Speaking at an Asia Society Policy Institute event, Albanese said more people had gained access to energy in India during Modi’s tenure than during any comparable period, region or country in human history.
Albanese also described Modi as someone with whom Australia has developed a strong relationship, underscoring the closer ties between the two countries.
India’s energy security strategy
Albanese’s remarks come against the backdrop of continuing concerns over global energy security and disruptions to major shipping routes.
India has sought to reduce its exposure to supply disruptions by broadening its energy-import sources. Modi told the Lok Sabha in March that India had increased the number of countries from which it imports energy from 27 to 41 over the previous 11 years.
The Prime Minister said the diversification covered crude oil, LNG and LPG and formed part of India’s broader energy-security strategy.
The government has also maintained strategic petroleum reserves. Modi said in Parliament that India had established more than 5.3 million metric tonnes of strategic petroleum reserves, with further expansion planned.
India expands energy import sources
The diversification of energy supplies has become particularly important amid disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict and challenges to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
India imports substantial quantities of crude oil, gas and LPG, making the stability of international energy routes important for domestic supplies.
Modi said the government had worked to ensure that petrol, diesel and gas supplies remained stable despite disruptions and had prioritised domestic LPG consumers while increasing local production.
Recent reporting has also highlighted the broader diversification of India’s crude-oil sourcing, with the country sourcing crude from a wider group of suppliers amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Stronger India-Australia relationship
Albanese also used his remarks to underline the close relationship between Australia and India.
The two countries have expanded cooperation across areas including trade, energy, critical minerals, education and the Indo-Pacific. Albanese’s comments come as both sides continue to deepen their strategic and economic engagement.
His remarks on India’s energy access were framed as recognition of the expansion of energy availability, while India’s own policy statements have focused on diversification of imports, domestic production and strategic reserves as key elements of energy security.
