India: USD 100 Billion Investment in Energy Exploration

Houston, Mar 26 (PTI) India aims to attract USD 100 billion in investment and expand exploration acreage to 1 million sq km by 2030, Srikant Nagulapalli, Director General of Hydrocarbons, has said.

Speaking at CERAWeek by S&P Global 2026, Nagulapalli outlined key policy reforms, data access and exploration opportunities aimed at attracting international investors.

India pitched a USD 100 billion upstream investment roadmap and positioned itself as a major destination for global capital at an outreach event on March 24, even as industry leaders warned of geopolitical risks and a complex energy transition.

India's Consul General in Houston, DC Manjunath, said the initiative reflects growing strategic alignment between India and the United States in the energy sector.

"There is a growing strategic convergence in India-US energy cooperation. We are creating a competitive, investor-friendly ecosystem where American technology and Indian resources don't just meet -- they thrive together," he said.

Nagulapalli said India aims to attract USD 100 billion in investment and expand exploration acreage to 1 million sq km by 2030. "For any investor thinking about the future, India is the right place to invest," he said.

According to Nagulapalli, India's output from current levels of about 29 million tonnes of oil and over 36 billion cubic metres of gas annually must increase through improved reservoir management and a focus on deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration.

Officials highlighted the National Data Repository and its node at the University of Houston, which allows companies to access geological and seismic datasets locally, reducing entry barriers and improving investment decisions.


They also pointed to Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) bid rounds offering blocks with marketing and pricing freedom, along with recent policy changes to enhance operational flexibility and fiscal stability.

The event drew policymakers, operators and executives, with participants noting that improved data access is helping connect global investors with India's resource base.

Global energy leaders held discussions centred on energy security, supply risks and rising demand.

Executives warned that geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, continue to threaten supply stability. "Energy security remains front and centre of global policy," speakers said during sessions.

Participants also flagged a structural rise in demand driven by emerging economies and new sources such as artificial intelligence and data centres, complicating efforts to balance affordability, reliability and climate goals.

India was frequently cited as a key demand driver, with rising urbanisation and industrial growth expected to sustain energy consumption.

The reconfiguration of global LNG markets and the surge in electricity demand were also highlighted as trends with direct implications for import-dependent economies such as India.

The conference also saw climate protests outside the venue, underscoring tensions around continued fossil fuel investments.

Participants said the global energy outlook will be shaped by competing priorities -- energy security, economic growth and climate commitments.