A high-level ministerial panel at India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 underscored the growing importance of energy security, investment continuity and international cooperation as global energy systems face heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
The panel discussion, titled “Charting a Course through Uncertainty: Securing Affordable, Accessible and Sustainable Energy in a Turbulent World,” brought together Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Jassim Al Shirawi, Secretary General of the International Energy Forum (IEF).
Speakers highlighted that rising energy demand from emerging economies, combined with the accelerating energy transition, has intensified the global focus on affordability, reliability and sustainability. The panel agreed that there is no one-size-fits-all pathway for countries navigating the transition.
From India’s perspective, Minister Hardeep Singh Puri emphasised that energy availability remains central to economic growth and national resilience. He noted that India has successfully managed recent global disruptions without energy shortages by diversifying supply sources, expanding supplier geographies and implementing reforms across the energy value chain.
Reiterating India’s ambition to increase the share of natural gas in its energy mix, Puri stressed the need for global collaboration, long-term investments and realistic transition strategies. He said that rising energy demand should be addressed through energy addition rather than abrupt replacement, highlighting the importance of stable and predictable markets for both producers and consumers.
Canada’s Energy Minister Tim Hodgson pointed to a more fragmented global trading environment, stating that trusted partnerships and diversified supply chains have become increasingly critical. Highlighting Canada’s strengths in oil, gas and critical minerals, he expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with India in LNG, critical minerals, oil supplies and long-term energy trade. He also underlined the role of middle powers in supporting free trade and reliable, non-coercive energy relationships.
Offering a global outlook, IEF Secretary General Jassim Al Shirawi said that population growth, urbanisation, industrialisation and digitalisation are driving sustained growth in global energy demand. He noted that oil and gas will continue to play a vital role, even as renewables and electrification expand, particularly as feedstocks for industry and petrochemicals.
Al Shirawi cautioned that underinvestment, grid limitations and supply-chain concentration could pose risks to energy security. He called for continuous dialogue between energy producers and consumers to ensure a balanced and orderly transition.
The panel concluded that navigating current uncertainties will require pragmatic policymaking, adaptability and deeper international cooperation, with investments across oil, gas, electricity grids, LNG, critical minerals and emerging technologies seen as essential for a resilient and inclusive energy transition.
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