Hydrogen Economy: Petroleum min Pradhan lists development initiatives

16 Apr 2021 CW Staff

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, who led the roundtable conference, said that the government has taken various initiatives in regards to the greater use of hydrogen in India's energy sector.

The Indian government recently announced the National Hydrogen Mission in the Budget 2021 for making a hydrogen roadmap for the country.

Pradhan said that India is working on a pilot project on blue hydrogen, green hydrogen and CNG (H-CNG). He added that currently, 50 buses in Delhi are CNG-operated and are blended with hydrogen.

The minister said that India is focusing on environmental and climate causes with a major thrust on deploying renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. In the past six years, the country has increased its renewable power portfolio from 32 GW to almost 100 GW, as a part of the 450 GW target of renewable energy generating capacity by 2030, said Pradhan.

He said that hydrogen can also align with the MoPNG's other flagship schemes, like the promotion of compressed biogas under the Sustainable Alternative for Affordable towards Transportation (SATAT) scheme or promoting the gas-based economy or other initiatives on waste-to-energy.

The high-level roundtable conference, led by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, included keynotes from Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE, Angus Taylor, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Australia, Dan Jorgensen, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark, and David M Turk, Deputy Secretary of Energy, US, who are presenting their insights on policy roadmaps, and demand and supply dynamics.

A separate session is devoted to India's Hydrogen Mission, which will feature a keynote speech from Dr Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The concluding session will be chaired by Tarun Kapoor, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Image Source

Also read: RIL, Chart Industries to lead new industry alliance on hydrogen

The Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) and the Energy Forum (TEF), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), organised a roundtable conference—Hydrogen Economy: The Indian Dialogue 2021, involving 25 panellists and 15 nations. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, who led the roundtable conference, said that the government has taken various initiatives in regards to the greater use of hydrogen in India's energy sector. The Indian government recently announced the National Hydrogen Mission in the Budget 2021 for making a hydrogen roadmap for the country. Pradhan said that India is working on a pilot project on blue hydrogen, green hydrogen and CNG (H-CNG). He added that currently, 50 buses in Delhi are CNG-operated and are blended with hydrogen. The minister said that India is focusing on environmental and climate causes with a major thrust on deploying renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. In the past six years, the country has increased its renewable power portfolio from 32 GW to almost 100 GW, as a part of the 450 GW target of renewable energy generating capacity by 2030, said Pradhan. He said that hydrogen can also align with the MoPNG's other flagship schemes, like the promotion of compressed biogas under the Sustainable Alternative for Affordable towards Transportation (SATAT) scheme or promoting the gas-based economy or other initiatives on waste-to-energy. The high-level roundtable conference, led by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, included keynotes from Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE, Angus Taylor, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Australia, Dan Jorgensen, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark, and David M Turk, Deputy Secretary of Energy, US, who are presenting their insights on policy roadmaps, and demand and supply dynamics. A separate session is devoted to India's Hydrogen Mission, which will feature a keynote speech from Dr Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The concluding session will be chaired by Tarun Kapoor, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Image Source Also read: RIL, Chart Industries to lead new industry alliance on hydrogen

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..