🌍 Energy Sovereignty: The New Oil

In today’s volatile world, energy is no longer just an economic issue—it is a matter of national security and survival.

India’s heavy dependence on crude oil and natural gas imports exposes us to global shocks and geopolitical risks. The author of a recent article explains this through:

🔹 Five major wake-up calls in history – from the 1973 oil embargo to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and renewable grid failures in Europe. Each moment taught us lessons on strategic reserves, nuclear risks, infrastructure resilience, coal’s role, and the importance of backups for renewable energy.

🔹 The reality check – Fossil fuels still dominate 80% of global demand, 90% of transport runs on hydrocarbons, and renewables account for just 10%. Energy dependence is not just a policy issue—it’s a vulnerability.

🔹 The way forward – India must build its energy sovereignty on five strong pillars:

1️⃣ Coal Gasification – Better use of domestic coal for producing alternative fuels.

2️⃣ Biofuels – Empowering farmers through ethanol blending & compressed biogas.

3️⃣ Nuclear Energy – Expanding clean nuclear power with international cooperation.

4️⃣ Green Hydrogen – Harnessing renewable-driven hydrogen as a sustainable fuel.

5️⃣ Pumped Hydro Storage – Resilient storage systems for renewable energy reliability.

➡️ The key message: Energy security is no longer a climate policy choice. It is a survival strategy.

For India, the path forward lies in diversification, domestic capacity, and building resilient systems.