Energy Sector

Gas-based power plants increasingly becoming impractical: NTPC chief

NTPC Chairman Gurdeep Singh flags viability concerns for gas-based power plants amid fuel supply uncertainties and stresses need for flexible generation solutions

NTPC, UK's Octopus Energy sign pact to explore power sector opportunities

Homegrown power giant NTPC has signed an agreement with UK-based Octopus Energy Group to explore business opportunities in various segments, including electricity distribution and storage. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Jatinder Singh Chandok, Head International Business Development, NTPC, and Chris Fitzgerald, Group Director, International Affairs, Octopus Energy, on the sidelines of Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 in the national capital. The collaboration will explore opportunities across India, the UK and other mutually agreed geographies with a focus on enhancing efficiency, affordability, reliability, and clean energy adoption, NTPC said. The MoU establishes a non-binding frameworkfor cooperation aimed at identifying, assessing, and pursuing opportunities in electricity distribution and retail, renewable energy and storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, digital energy platforms, innovation, research & development and capacity building.

Petrol dealers may face cash crunch as OMCs seek advance payments

Dealers warn of reduced fuel orders as refiners end credit supply amid losses on petrol and diesel sales with retail prices unchanged

ReNew Energy set to secure $800 million refinancing loan this year

The five-year facility will be priced at about 185 basis points over the benchmark Secured Overnight Financing Rate, the people said. Final terms may change

The calculus of war: Power, oil, and the logic of conflict in Iran

Everybody loves a good war, especially if they are oil-rich. Here's the algebra of the calculus of war for Iran

Centre discusses rare-earth corridor sites in Andhra, Odisha and Kerala

Centre discusses SOP for monazite handling, private participation as corridor plans move ahead

West Asia crisis: India engages key players to secure energy supplies

Against the backdrop of spiralling hostilities in West Asia, India on Saturday said it has remained in touch with all key players, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran, the US and Israel, with a primary focus on safeguarding its energy security. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that besides advocating for dialogue and diplomacy, India has consistently underlined the necessity of ensuring the unimpeded transit of goods and energy supplies through the region. Aseem Mahajan, an additional secretary in the ministry, said five Indian nationals have lost their lives and one remains missing in the ongoing conflict. He said around 1,72,000 Indians have returned to India since February 28, the day the hostilities began. "We have also called for avoiding targeting civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, across the region. We believe that these are the priorities of a large part of the global community since the impact of the conflict is bei

TN govt offers ₹2 per unit power subsidy for eateries using induction

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced a subsidy of Rs 2 per unit of electricity for restaurants, hotels and tea shops that switch to electric stoves instead of commercial LPG cylinders to run their businesses. Chief Minister M K Stalin has been holding review meetings since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28, which has led to a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders for eateries, the government said. At a review meeting held on Saturday, it was decided to provide a subsidy of Rs 2 per unit for the additional electricity consumed by the hotels, tea shops and cloud kitchens using induction stoves. "This subsidy will remain in effect as long as the commercial LPG usage restrictions announced by the Centre are in place," Additional Chief Secretary J Radhakrishnan said. Briefing reporters at the Secretariat here, he said electricity consumption by hoteliers and restaurants has increased, with demand rising by about 50 MW above the average in the recent days. Referri

ISMA urges PMO to fast-track ethanol blending beyond 20% amid energy crisis

Sources said ISMA, in a letter written a few days ago, stated that while global energy markets remain uncertain, accelerating domestic biofuel utilisation is both an economic and strategic imperative

Datanomics: India's natural gas squeeze amid rising West Asia conflict

India's LNG imports have more than doubled in the last decade from $6 billion in FY17 to nearly $15 billion in FY25

AC makers flag production risks as LPG shortage worsens amid West Asia war

Air-conditioner makers warn of production risks as LPG shortages linked to the West Asia conflict disrupt supply of fuel used in brazing and coating processes

India dials Iran for safe transit of its vessels through Strait of Hormuz

Government engages Tehran to ensure safe transit for Indian-flagged vessels amid West Asia conflict as concerns mount over oil, gas and fertiliser supplies

Nil expenditure in gasification scheme for most of 2025-26: Parl panel

A parliamentary committee has flagged significant delays in expenditure under the scheme for promotion of coal, lignite gasification, noting zero spending for most of 2025-26 despite a revised allocation of Rs 285 crore, and suggested a time-bound spending framework with quarterly milestone verification. The standing committee on coal, mines and steel was of the view that the scheme's outlay was brought down from Rs 300 crore at Budget Estimates (BE) 2025-26 to Rs 285 crore at Revised Estimates (RE) stage due to milestone-based needs, with no expenditure incurred and even a a single eligible project pending reimbursement formalities. "The committee noted that no expenditure is incurred for most of the financial year, with even a single eligible project awaiting fulfilment of reimbursement formalities," it said. The panel further noted that against a Revised Estimate of Rs 285 crore in 2025-26, the Budget Estimate for 2026-27 was sharply raised to Rs 3,525 crore. The committee, ...

Energy shares gain in weak markets amid crude spike; Nifty Energy up 2%

As many as 34 out of the 40 constituent stocks were trading in the green, while six were in the red

India faces LNG, LPG supply crunch after 10 days of West Asia war

Government prioritises LPG and LNG supply for domestic use as West Asia conflict disrupts shipments; India also secures alternative supplies that bypass the Strait of Hormuz

West Asia conflict jolts oil markets as analysts weigh future energy shock

Brent crude briefly surged to $120 a barrel amid supply disruptions in West Asia. Analysts warn that the Iran war could reshape oil price trajectories and pose fresh risks to India's energy security

India to boost coal use for summer as West Asia crisis hits LNG supplies

India has invoked emergency provisions and declared force majeure, reprioritising natural gas supplies to key sectors such as households and fertiliser plants

ADB flags India's oil vulnerability amid rising West Asia tensions

ADB says India's crude oil reserves of about 100 million barrels-enough for 40-45 days-leave the country exposed to potential supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz

Qatar energy minister warns Gulf exports could halt within weeks: Report

"Everybody that has not called for force majeure we expect will do so in the next few days that this continues. All exporters in the Gulf region will have to call force majeure," Kaabi told the FT

Indian gas firms may cut industrial supply if Qatar halt persists

QatarEnergy has halted production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) amid attacks on its facilities as tensions rise in West Asia