India can add oil and gas while it chases green goal, Modi says

India can add oil and gas while it chases green goal, Modi says

India, the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter, is planning for an expansion of its oil and gas sectors even as it aims to hit net-zero by 2070.

The nation intends to increase oil refining volumes to 450 million tons a year by the end of decade, from about 250 million tons, and will also boost liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday.

“Energy is a big factor in fulfilling the aspirations of Indians,” Modi said, opening a three-day energy forum in Bengaluru that’ll draw 30,000 delegates, including officials and executives from Saudi Arabia, Russia, the US and China. “From industries to offices, factories to homes, India’s energy demand continues to rise.”