| The global scenario has undergone a drastic | | | | entitles it to import oil and natural gas from the |
| change in the recent times as the economies are | | | | middle-east countries which are the reservoirs of |
| striving to attain high economic growth rates by | | | | resources. This not only helps India secure |
| strengthening their resource base and securing | | | | economic growth, but would also facilitate the |
| energy supplies. It is apparent that a situation like | | | | strengthening of bilateral relations with the |
| this could breed resource wars amongst the | | | | neighbouring countries. The task, however, has |
| countries. The Asian region has specially witnessed | | | | not been effortless. The hindrance in the pipeline |
| the increased competition for imports with the | | | | projects has forced India to import natural gas in |
| increasing reliance on energy resources. Natural | | | | the form of LNG from countries like Oman and |
| gas is rapidly growing as the primary energy | | | | Qatar. |
| source all over the world and in Asia. The Asian | | | | India entered the LNG race in 2004 with its first |
| countries are increasingly relying on the Middle | | | | LNG Terminal set up by Petronet at Dahej on the |
| East as the major supplier of energy. | | | | west coast of the country. Anticipating the fact |
| India, being the world’s sixth largest energy | | | | that the dependence on the oil and natural gas will |
| consumer is endeavouring to establish itself as a | | | | increase in the coming years, India is emphasizing |
| secure economy and has realized the need for | | | | on the techniques for efficient use of energy and |
| strengthening its power sector to ensure a | | | | in developing alternative energy sources. At the |
| sustained economic growth. | | | | same time, India is attempting to address the |
| Technological advancement and accelerated | | | | geopolitical concerns which are one of the major |
| economic growth in India has led the country to | | | | obstacles in the smooth imports of oil and natural |
| join the highly competitive set-up of energy | | | | gas from the neighbouring countries. |
| dynamics. One of the biggest consumers of | | | | With the expansion of new LNG facilities at Dahej |
| energy in the world, India has started the quest | | | | and the setting up of new Terminals at Kochi, |
| of becoming one of the powerhouses of the | | | | Dabhol and Mangalore, India is preparing itself for a |
| future. With a view to meet the challenges of the | | | | giant leap in the energy sector. At the same time, |
| energy industry, India is making investments in | | | | maintaining the imports from the countries like |
| the energy infrastructure to meet the growing | | | | Oman and Qatar ensures that India does not lag |
| demands. Though being the third largest producer | | | | behind in the race for securing energy supplies. A |
| of coal in the world, India relies heavily on the oil | | | | combination of strategically planned infrastructure, |
| and natural gas imports due to high energy | | | | balance of geographical and political concerns and |
| consumption rate in the country. | | | | co-operative policies would pave the way for India |
| An advantageous geographical location of India | | | | to develop as a global powerhouse of the future. |