India and the United States Deepen Energy‑Security Cooperation at Houston G20 Summit

New Delhi and Washington leaned in close during a side meeting at the G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston, where Union Power Minister Manohar Lal and his U.S. counterpart Chris Wright refreshed a bilateral energy‑security pact that first took shape a few years ago. The tone was upbeat – both ministers spoke about “shared destiny” in clean power, resilient grids and next‑generation tech.

Beyond the usual diplomatic niceties, the conversation turned practical. Lal laid out India’s ambition to build a power backbone that can power artificial‑intelligence workloads, high‑performance computing clusters and data‑centre farms. In other words, the country wants electricity that’s not just abundant but smart enough to keep massive servers humming 24/7.

On the nuclear front, New Delhi signalled a more aggressive rollout, mapping out sites for new reactors and promising regulatory fast‑tracks. The message was clear: nuclear will sit alongside wind, solar and storage as a reliable baseload pillar.

Canada also got a slice of the dialogue. Lal met with Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, to explore joint work on energy‑efficiency measures, low‑emission technologies and offshore exploration under the Samundra Manthan programme. Canadian firms were invited to tap India’s expanding upstream sector, an overture that could bring fresh capital and expertise.

Back in the G20 arena, Lal highlighted India’s rapid progress – 552 GW of installed capacity, more than half of it coming from non‑fossil sources, and major strides in solar, battery storage, clean‑cooking and nuclear. He urged the group to keep the conversation technology‑neutral and inclusive, pointing to initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, the Ocean‑Based Sustainable Offshore Wind Outlook Group (OSOWOG) and the Global Biofuels Alliance.

Regulatory reform also featured prominently. The minister explained how digital platforms such as the National Single Window System, PARIVESH and PM Gati Shakti are streamlining clearances, shaving months off project timelines. “Efficient permitting is the new fuel for growth,” he quipped, a nod to the need for speed in a world racing toward net‑zero.

In short, India’s energy strategy is being painted as a balanced, future‑ready mix – diversify sources, boost clean baseload, and weave in emerging tech. By deepening ties with the United States, and by keeping doors open to Canada and the wider G20, New Delhi hopes to secure affordable, sustainable power for its citizens while contributing to global stability.