NOVEMBER 20258SUMAN BERY CALLS FOR BALANCED PUBLIC-PRIVATE ENERGY OVERHAULIGL AND MASAH JOIN HANDS FOR SAUDI GAS NETWORK EXPANSIONOn Thursday, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery said India's energy market requires a fresh approach as the country advances its energy transition. During the conferences organized by CII on Energy Security, he pointed out that there must be a moderate balance between the public and the private in ensuring efficiency, resilience and innovativeness.In a hydrocarbon market, Berry noted that the current market structure requires transformation. He pointed out how the historic leadership of the state-run firms in the hydrocarbons and electricity production cannot remain Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL), India's biggest city gas distribution firm has formed a strategic alliance with Saudi Arabia's MASAH Construction Company to collaboratively create and manage natural gas distribution systems in industrial cities throughout the Kingdom.This signifies IGL's initial international growth as a part of its larger goal to expand worldwide and advocate for cleaner energy options.The contract was finalized in the company of high-ranking officials from Saudi Arabia's Investment Promotion Authority, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, and senior executives from both firms.the same with the introduction of cleaner and more varied sources of energy in India.Our energy market, particularly the hydrocarbons, needs to be rethought concerning its structure. He believes that energy efficiency, resilience, and innovation will rely on a balanced combination of both the public and private involvement.He further explained that energy security does not only involve supply. It is also based on affordability, diversification as well as the resilience of the system to shocks. The future he believes will not be propelled by new findings but rather by making whatever is already available bigger and cheaper such as solar, hydrogen and other renewables will become accessible and affordable.According to Bery, the previous emphasis on availability, access, and affordability should be added with sustainability and micro level access to energy. He pointed out that India has achieved significant gains in delivering electricity to more people, but it is necessary to ensure that the affordability remains high to avoid the transition towards a high-cost system.The same sentiments have been reiterated by CII Core Group on Energy Security Chairman Prabh Das, who proposed a move toward the complementary, as opposed to the rivalry among energy sources. We want to have complements rather than competition of sources of energy. Through the partnership, IGL will provide technical knowledge in the planning and management of natural gas systems, whereas MASAH will contribute its capabilities in regulatory procedures, engineering, project implementation, and local stakeholder involvement. IGL currently oversees a vast network exceeding 28,000 km of pipelines, delivers CNG to more than 2.1 million vehicles via over 950 stations, and supplies piped natural gas to more than three million homes in various Indian cities. MASAH, based in Riyadh, is a leading contractor managing significant infrastructure projects for organizations like Aramco, the Ministry of Defence, and the Public Investment Fund.The collaboration is anticipated to encourage international knowledge sharing and strengthens India's increasing influence in promoting clean energy globally.Both organizations seek to achieve operational efficiency, sustainable development, and skill enhancement in alignment with common objectives for a more sustainable future. TOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIES
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