The global crisis triggered by the war in West Asia has yet again highlighted the fragility of energy supply chains. The almost immediate casualty of this war was the price of oil and gas. Even with a temporary halt in hostilities, the resultant economic impacts will reverberate for some time to come. As nations around the world take stock, conversations surrounding energy independence and security have taken the centre stage. Amidst the immediate and long-term fallout, India must treat this moment as a strategic inflection point and accelerate its shift toward domestic clean energy systems while simultaneously prioritising energy efficiency.

India is the second largest importer of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and these imports account for two-thirds of its domestic consumption. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) presents a similar story with the bulk of demand being met by imports which stood at about 25 million tonnes just last year. India also imports over 85% of its crude oil. The lion’s share of these imports come from West Asia, and nearly all pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint which has effectively been closed over the past several weeks. This stark reality has left India vulnerable to sudden supply disruptions and price volatility.

The recurring energy market ructions of recent years have made one thing abundantly clear: Economies built around imported fossil fuels remain structurally vulnerable to geopolitical disruption. Transitioning to cleaner forms of energy offers a significant buffer from such........

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