Environment & Energy Conclave 2026 - Curtain Raiser of EEC 2026
Round Table on 'Oil and Gas Sector in India during Changing Times' held on 20th May 2026 at India International Centre, New Delhi.
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Roundtable on 'Oil and Gas Sector in India during Changing Times' held on 20th May 2026 at India International Centre in Delhi.
The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) successfully hosted a Roundtable on ‘Oil and Gas Sector in India during Changing Times’ with a networking high tea on 20th May 2026 at the India International Centre, Delhi. This Roundtable was presented as a precursor to the 19th Edition of our Environment and Energy Conclave to be held on 10th September in Delhi.
The Roundtable brought together industry leaders, domain experts, senior policymakers and relevant stakeholders from the Oil and Gas ecosystem to deliberate on the evolving landscape of India's energy sector amidst global transitions and emerging challenges.
The Roundtable featured insightful addresses from:
Dr. Ajay Shankar, Former Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Govt. of India and Mentor, The Delhi Council, BCC&I
Mr. Asim Prasad, Executive Director (Corporate Strategy, Planning, Advocacy & Corporate Affairs), GAIL (India) Limited.
Dr. Kaustav Nag, Additional Director General (Exploration), Directorate General of Hydrocarbons.
Mr Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, Managing Director & CEO, Indian Gas Exchange.
Mr. Kamal Kishore Chatiwal, Managing Director, Indraprastha Gas Limited.
Mr. Ajay Kumar, General Manager - Production, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Mr. Manas Majumdar, Partner, Lead Fuels & Resources, Oil & Gas Sector Leader, PwC India.
Mr. Raman Jha, Executive Director, PwC India.
One of the major themes that emerged during the deliberations was diversification, both in terms of supply sources and consumption patterns. Electric cooking and e-mobility were identified as possible consumption shifts that could potentially reduce pressure on conventional fuel demand in the market.
The Roundtable also emphasised on the need for enhanced exploration activities within India, including the assessment of offshore potential and optimisation of market linkages for oil and gas resources from available reserves, particularly from regions such as the North-- Eastern states of India. Strengthening domestic production capabilities was identified as a strategic imperative for improving energy security.
Discussions also touched upon capital expenditure, technological feasibility and deployment of advanced technologies. Experts noted that emerging tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are increasingly becoming essential in evaluating project viability, improving exploration efficiency and enabling informed decision-making. The importance of storage infrastructure emerged as another critical aspect. Discussions on storage, covered gas compression technologies, strategic reserves for oil and gas and the role of storage systems in enhancing resilience during supply disruptions. The feasibility of utilising depleted reserves for storage purposes was also considered, subject to technological and economic viability.
Carbon sequestration and carbon management were recognised as key priorities not only for the oil and gas sector but also for downstream user industries. Participants underlined the importance of integrating carbon capture processes within production systems and developing pathways that support low emission industrial operations.
An interesting dimension discussed during the Roundtable related to the broader implications of energy transition. While reducing crude oil imports and advancing electrification remain important objectives, experts observed that rapid adoption of e-mobility could simultaneously increase dependence on imports of critical and rare earth minerals, thereby creating new strategic challenges.
The deliberations further highlighted the importance of adopting a balanced transition approach, taking into account India’s diverse socio-economic realities. It was noted that urban and rural requirements, cultural practices and gender sensitivities must remain central to policy formulation and implementation.
The Roundtable served as an important platform for exchanging ideas and perspectives on the future direction of India’s oil and gas sector and reinforced the need for collaborative approaches to ensure energy security, sustainability and resilience in a rapidly changing global environment. We shall be preparing a Report, collated from the discussions, which will be submitted to the relevant authorities in the Government, Oil & Gas sector and User Industries.
List of Companies that joined the Roundtable:
Brahamaputra Crackers & Polymer Ltd.
Centre for Responsible Business (CRB).
Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited.
Cosmic Petrochem.
Directorate General of Hydrocarbons.
Ernst & Young LLP.
GAIL (India) Limited.
HPCL Biofuels Ltd.
Indian Gas Exchange.
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL).
Indraprastha Gas Limited.
International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.
PCBL Chemicals.
PwC.
Photo 1 - (L-R) Mr. Kamal Kishore Chatiwal, Managing Director, Indraprastha Gas Limited, Dr. Kaustav Nag, Additional Director General (Exploration), Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt. of India, Dr. Ajay Shankar, Former Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Govt. of India and Mentor, The Delhi Council, BCC&I, Mr. Asim Prasad, Executive Director (Corporate Strategy Planning, Advocacy & Corporate Affairs), GAIL (India) Limited, Mr Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, Managing Director & CEO, Indian Gas Exchange and Mr. Ajay Kumar, General Manager- Production, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).
Photo 2 - (L-R) Mr. Manas Majumdar, Partner, Lead Fuels & Resources, Oil & Gas Sector Leader, PwC India and Mr. Raman Jha, Executive Director, PwC India
