NEW DELHI, Feb 11: Union Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized on Tuesday that nuclear power will be a crucial topic in energy discussions, particularly in the Indian context, where its commercial application has not yet materialized, despite the country having signed a treaty with the US.
His comments are timely, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the US later this week for discussions with President Donald Trump, which will cover various topics, including energy.
During a press conference regarding India Energy Week 2025, which commenced on Tuesday, Puri expressed, “I would be surprised if energy sourcing from the US is not part of the discussions between PM Modi and Trump.”
Puri noted that President Trump’s interest in lowering global energy prices aligns with India’s goals, highlighting that an increase in energy supply is beneficial for countries like India.
In a ministerial panel discussion at IEW25, Puri remarked, “Nuclear power is a cost-effective and efficient option, but we need to follow a specific path. I am confident this will be a talking point in significant discussions going forward.”
Addressing the commercial expansion of nuclear energy, the minister commented, “We had signed a civilian nuclear energy agreement with the US, along with an India-specific IAEA safeguards agreement, yet commercial contracts have yet to be established… Now, we are exploring small modular reactors.”
In her recent Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a ₹20,000-crore nuclear mission aimed at generating at least 100GW of nuclear energy by 2047.
She mentioned that in order to foster active collaboration with the private sector to achieve this objective, amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act would be pursued.
A Nuclear Energy Mission dedicated to the research and development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with a financial outlay of ₹20,000 crores, will be established, with plans for at least five indigenously developed SMRs to be operational by 2033.
Reflecting on his experiences with the Trump administration, Puri shared that he had the “great privilege” of knowing Trump prior to his presidency, having lived in Trump Tower and attended resident gatherings he hosted.
He mentioned, “I was the minister-in-waiting during Trump’s first official visit, allowing me to observe the unfolding events with great interest.”
Puri also highlighted the interconnectedness of today’s global economy, noting that 50 percent of India’s GDP is reliant on the external sector.
He expressed enthusiasm regarding the current US administration’s perspective on increasing energy availability in the market, stating, “More energy translates to lower prices, which is advantageous for India as both a consumer and producer.”
Puri pointed out that while there has never been a shortage of energy globally, energy poverty remains a pressing issue, affecting 1.18 billion people, with 750 million lacking electricity and 2 billion without access to clean cooking solutions.
“I believe this problem can be addressed swiftly and effectively,” he concluded. (PTI)
