India, UK Strengthen Energy Ties as Hardeep Singh Puri Meets BP CEO During Keir Starmer’s India Visit
New Delhi, Oct 9 (TheTrendingPeople.com) — In a major step towards bolstering India–UK energy cooperation, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday said he had an “excellent interaction” with BP CEO Murray Auchincloss, who is accompanying British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his two-day official visit to India.
Starmer, making his first trip to India as UK Prime Minister, is leading a high-powered delegation of over 100 British business, academic, and cultural leaders, with a focus on strengthening bilateral trade and investment. The visit comes on the heels of the recently signed India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a new phase of economic collaboration between the two countries.
Puri’s Talks with BP Leadership Highlight India’s Energy Vision
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Minister Puri said,
“An excellent online interaction with CEO of BP, Murray Auchincloss and BP India head Kartik Dubey. Murray is in Mumbai as a part of the business delegation accompanying the British Prime Minister.”
He added that BP’s engagement with India extends across the entire energy value chain, from exploration and production to retail and green energy initiatives. “BP has a longstanding and comprehensive engagement in India across the energy value chain, and is exploring blocks under OALP Round-10,” Puri noted.
The minister highlighted how Indian public sector undertakings (PSUs) are actively partnering with BP to rejuvenate the Mumbai High oil field, one of India’s most productive offshore assets. The two sides are also collaborating in retail fuel, natural gas, and compressed biogas, aligning with India’s broader push for energy security and sustainability under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India’s Green Hydrogen Push Gains Global Attention
Minister Puri reaffirmed India’s strong commitment to building a self-reliant and cleaner energy future. He noted that India’s Hydrogen Age has begun, with the government targeting 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen production by 2030 — which would account for 10 per cent of the global hydrogen market.
The minister said the price of green hydrogen, currently at $3.5 per kg, is expected to fall below $3 per kg, making it a more viable and scalable alternative. “If prices come down, India can adopt green hydrogen on a much larger scale, which will eventually help reduce our import dependence,” Puri stated.
He added, “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Bharat is building a trusted hydrogen hub — fuelling growth, exports, and a cleaner future.”
The emphasis on hydrogen aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to position the country as a global hub for green hydrogen production and export, thereby reducing fossil fuel reliance and contributing to net-zero emission goals.
BP’s Expanding Footprint in India
BP’s engagement with India has grown steadily over the decades. The company has partnered with Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in multiple ventures, including fuel retailing and natural gas projects.
In September 2024, Auchincloss led BP’s entire board on a visit to India to explore deeper cooperation in the renewable energy and fuel efficiency sectors. BP’s latest “Energy Outlook” report highlights that India’s oil demand will rise more than any other country’s through 2050, driven by rapid economic growth and urbanization.
The report also projects that India’s share in the global energy market will increase from 7 per cent today to over 12 per cent by 2050, making the country one of the world’s most significant energy consumers.
India–UK Cooperation Beyond Energy
The discussions between Puri and Auchincloss underscore a broader shift in India–UK relations, particularly after the signing of the FTA. The agreement is expected to unlock new opportunities across technology, manufacturing, services, and energy sectors.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit signals renewed British interest in deepening partnerships with India amid shifting global trade dynamics and a push for clean energy transition.
The UK government has also expressed support for collaborations in renewable energy, carbon capture, and electric mobility, sectors where BP is expected to play a significant role.
Future Outlook: A Cleaner and Stronger Partnership
India’s focus on energy diversification and decarbonization is opening the door for deeper international partnerships. BP’s ongoing projects and interest in hydrogen and biogas align with India’s 2050 net-zero goals, presenting a win-win opportunity for both nations.
With a strong policy framework, foreign collaboration, and private-sector participation, India is rapidly emerging as a leader in sustainable energy solutions, setting a global example of balancing growth with environmental responsibility.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The collaboration between India and the United Kingdom, strengthened through business interactions like Hardeep Singh Puri’s meeting with BP’s CEO, highlights the strategic importance of sustainable energy cooperation in today’s world. As India accelerates its transition to clean fuels and hydrogen, partnerships with trusted global players like BP are poised to reshape the energy landscape, creating a cleaner, more secure, and economically robust future.