🔶 Slide 1: Title Slide
“Energy
Security: India’s Strategic Imperative in a Volatile World”
Speaker
Notes:
Good morning/afternoon.
It is a privilege to address such a distinguished academic audience.
Energy
security today is no longer just about economics or development—it has become a
core pillar of national security, foreign policy, and even military strategy.
What I
will attempt today is to take you beyond definitions and data—to a strategic
understanding of energy security in the Indian context, especially in light
of current global turbulence.
🔶 Slide 2: Conceptual Framework
Speaker
Notes:
Let us begin with a conceptual clarity.
Energy
security traditionally rests on four pillars:
- Availability
- Accessibility
- Affordability
- Sustainability
However,
I would like to add a fifth dimension—Resilience.
👉 Resilience is the ability of a nation to absorb
shocks, whether due to war, sanctions, or supply disruptions.
In
today’s world, resilience is perhaps the most critical dimension.
Also
remember the Energy Trilemma:
- Security
- Sustainability
- Affordability
Balancing
these three is the central policy challenge.
🔶 Slide 3: India’s Energy Reality
Speaker
Notes:
India is the third-largest energy consumer in the world, but with a
unique paradox.
- We are relatively secure in electricity due to coal
- But highly vulnerable in hydrocarbons
Key
facts:
- Oil import dependence: ~85–90%
- Gas import dependence: ~50%
👉 This means India’s growth is fundamentally tied to external
energy flows.
Pause
for emphasis:
In simple terms—India’s economic engine runs on imported fuel.
🔶 Slide 4: Energy Mix of India
Speaker
Notes:
India’s energy mix is still dominated by:
- Coal (~48%)
- Oil (~28%)
- Renewables growing but not yet dominant
This
creates a structural dilemma:
- Coal ensures energy security
- But creates environmental challenges
👉 This is the classic conflict between development and
sustainability.
🔶 Slide 5: Strait of Hormuz – India’s Lifeline
Speaker
Notes:
Now let us come to the most critical vulnerability.
The Strait
of Hormuz handles:
- Nearly 2/3rd of India’s oil imports
- About half of LNG imports
👉 This is India’s strategic Achilles heel.
In the
current global situation, disruptions here can:
- Spike oil prices
- Disrupt supply chains
- Trigger domestic inflation
Engagement
question:
What happens if Hormuz is blocked even for 10 days?
—India faces immediate economic stress.
🔶 Slide 6: Chokepoint Vulnerability Theory
Speaker
Notes:
Modern energy security must be understood through chokepoint vulnerabilities.
Key
global chokepoints:
- Strait of Hormuz
- Strait of Malacca
- Suez Canal
👉 Whoever controls or disrupts these controls global
energy flows.
🔶 Slide 7: Components of Energy Security
Speaker
Notes:
Energy security is not just oil and gas.
It
includes:
- Oil security
- Gas security
- Electricity security
- Critical minerals security
👉 Critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel are
essential for:
- Batteries
- Electric vehicles
- Renewable energy
And
India is almost 100% import dependent here.
🔶 Slide 8: Energy Transition vs Energy Security
Speaker
Notes:
Now we come to a major policy dilemma.
India
is pushing:
- Solar
- Wind
- Green hydrogen
But at
the same time:
- Fossil fuel demand is rising
👉 This creates a paradox:
- Clean energy for the future
- Fossil fuels for the present
Key
takeaway:
Energy transition is not a replacement—it is an addition.
🔶 Slide 9: Challenges – Structural
Speaker
Notes:
Let us classify challenges.
Structural
challenges:
- High import dependence
- Low domestic production
- Limited storage capacity
👉 India has only limited gas storage—this is a major
vulnerability.
🔶 Slide 10: Challenges – Geopolitical
Speaker
Notes:
Geopolitics plays a dominant role.
- Instability in the Middle East
- Sanctions on countries like Russia and Iran
- Strategic competition among major powers
👉 Energy today is a weapon of geopolitics.
🔶 Slide 11: Challenges – Economic & Technological
Speaker
Notes:
Economic:
- Oil price volatility
- Currency fluctuations
Technological:
- Renewable intermittency
- Storage limitations
👉 Without storage, renewable energy cannot ensure
stability.
🔶 Slide 12: Supply Chain & Maritime Risks
Speaker
Notes:
Energy security is also about logistics.
- Tankers
- Insurance
- Shipping routes
Disruptions
here can halt supply even without war.
🔶 Slide 13: India’s Short-Term Measures
Speaker
Notes:
India has taken several short-term measures:
- Strategic petroleum reserves
- Diversification of suppliers (Russia, US, Africa)
- Emergency fuel management
👉 These measures ensure immediate resilience.
🔶 Slide 14: Long-Term Strategy
Speaker
Notes:
Long-term strategy includes:
- Renewable expansion
- Ethanol blending
- Nuclear energy
- Green hydrogen mission
👉 India is attempting a multi-source energy
architecture.
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