
Need to safeguard oil and gas supply chains amid geopolitical uncertainties: Report
New Delhi: With India projected to grow at over 6 per cent annually and its primary energy demand increasing at a CAGR of 5.5 per cent, there is an urgent need to safeguard oil and gas supply chains amid rising geopolitical and market uncertainties, according to a report released on Friday.
Over 85 per cent of India's crude oil needs are met through imports, positioning the country as the world's third-largest oil importer.
'Geopolitical instability, especially in chokepoints like the Hormuz Strait and Suez Canal, threatens consistent crude supply and pricing,' said the report by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).
Brent crude prices are forecast to decline from $81 per barrel in 2024 to $66 per barrel in 2026, driven by supply expansion outside OPEC+ and moderate demand growth.
'India's economic growth trajectory demands resilient and diversified energy sources. This report provides an integrated roadmap to navigate future energy challenges while ensuring affordability, accessibility, and sustainability,' said Hemant Jain, PHDCCI President.
The industrial sector now consumes approximately 40 per cent of India's total energy, making it the largest single energy-consuming sector in 2023.
'Over past three decades, industrial energy demand has tripled, and industry accounts for approximately 36–38 per cent of final energy consumption,' the report noted.
Currently, India' domestic oil and gas production is centred in Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Mumbai High and the Krishna Godavari Basin.
Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) launched in 2016 has simplified approval processes, with attractive fiscal terms, and bolstered licensing and exploration activity.
By mid-2024, 144 blocks covering approximately 243 000 km² had been awarded, though international companies have largely avoided participation, favouring other countries with more attractive terms.
Offshore production is set to increase thanks to additional supplies from ONGC's deepwater KG-D5 project between 2025 and 2030.
However, offshore (and overall) gas supply growth will be tempered by plateauing output from the KG-D6 fields and declining production from legacy assets like ONGC's Mumbai offshore fields.
According to recent reports, India may be inching closer to a game-changing offshore oil discovery in the Andaman Sea — one that could hold as much as 184,440 crore litres of crude oil and rival Guyana's transformational find, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, has hinted.
According to projections, India's natural gas production is also expected to rise to 54.7 BCM by FY 2029-30.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Geopolitics on hold, bulls in control: Nifty reclaims 25K
Bulls stormed Dalal Street on Friday, pushing the Nifty 50 index past 25,000, snapping a three-day losing streak. The rally gained momentum in the final hour as Middle East tensions showed signs of cooling and foreign investors returned to Indian equities. Sentiment improved after reports suggested a potential de-escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict, with the White House indicating that US President Donald Trump would take at least two weeks to decide on any involvement, leaving room for diplomatic engagement. This helped cool Brent crude prices, easing concerns over Indias energy import costs and giving a further boost to equities. Short covering ahead of next weeks monthly F&O expiry added to the surge. All NSE sectoral indices ended in the green, led by gains in realty and PSU bank stocks. The S&P BSE Sensex jumped 1,046.30 points or 1.29% to 82,408.17. The Nifty 50 index jumped 319.15 points or 1.29% to 25,112.40. The Sensex and the Nifty fell 0.53% and 0.61%, respectively, in the past three sessions. Reliance Industries (up 2.16%), HDFC Bank (up 1.60%) and ICICI Bank (up 1.13%) boosted the indices. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 1.20% and the S&P BSE Small-Cap index added 0.55%. The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 2,463 shares rose and 1,484 shares fell. A total of 147 shares were unchanged. The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of the market's expectation of volatility over the near term, tanked 4.08% to 13.67. Numbers to Track: The yield on India's 10-year benchmark federal paper shed 0.02% to 6.311 from the previous close of 6.312. In the foreign exchange market, the rupee edged higher against the dollar. The partially convertible rupee was hovering at 86.6150 compared with its close of 86.7350 during the previous trading session. MCX Gold futures for 5 August 2025 settlement shed 0.56% to Rs 98,774. The US Dollar Index (DXY), which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, was down 0.19% to 98.60. The United States 10-year bond yield rose 0.25% to 4.407. In the commodities market, Brent crude for August 2025 settlement rose 56 cents or 0.73% to $77.26 a barrel. Global Markets: European indices advanced on Friday, despite a sharp decline in U.K. retail spending. According to the Office for National Statistics, retail sales in the U.K. fell by 2.7% in May, the steepest monthly drop since December 2023, as shoppers pulled back on spending. In addition to releasing retail sales data, the Office for National Statistics also reported that public borrowing in May reached 17.7 billion pounds ($23.8 billion), which is 700 million pounds higher than the same period last year. Most Asian shares ended lower as investors assessed China data and monitored tensions between Israel and Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump is now weighing in on whether to back the Israeli military and strike Tehran. The White House said that he will make a final decision within the next two weeks. Japan's core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes volatile fresh food costs, rose 3.7% in May from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, accelerating from a 3.5% increase in April. China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged Friday. The Peoples Bank of China held the 1-year loan prime rate at 3.0% and the 5-year LPR at 3.5%, according to a statement Friday. Stocks in Spotlight: Shares of Power Finance Corporation (PFC) (+4.92%) and REC (+2.96%) rallied after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued its final Project Finance Directions, 2025. Lenders will now set aside a standard 1% for such exposures, with a gradual increase depending on the length of DCCO deferment. In the case of under-construction commercial real estate, the initial provisioning will be slightly higher at 1.25%. For projects that have already achieved financial closure, existing provisioning rules will continue to apply, ensuring a smooth transition to the new regime. Sun TV Network fell 1.09% after a legal notice from DMK MP and former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran to his brother, Sun TV chairman Kalanithi Maran, reignited a decades-old family dispute over the companys shareholding structure. The notice has been served not only to Kalanithi Maran but also to his wife, Kavery Kalanithi, and others involved in the company. Kalanithi Maran remains the majority shareholder, holding a 75% stake in the Chennai-based broadcaster. In response, Sun TV Network dismissed the allegations as incorrect, misleading, speculative, and not supported by facts or law, adding that the matter pertains to a time when the company was a privately held entity and all actions were conducted in accordance with the law. Brahmaputra Infrastructure shares rose 1.48% after the company implemented a 15% hike in rental rates at City Centre Guwahati, in line with its lease agreement mandating such an increase every three years. The hike took effect from April 1, 2025, following the end of the second three-year term on March 31. The mall, which is operating at full capacity, currently houses over 150 reputed brands. Uno Minda advanced 2.74% after the companys board has approved the setting up of a greenfield manufacturing facility for aluminium die casting in Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra for Rs 210 crore. Suzlon Energy rose 1.26% after the company bagged its third successive order from Ampin Energy Transition (AMPIN) for the development of a 170.1 MW wind power project in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. TD Power Systems shed 0.18%. The company secured an order worth Rs 67 crore from a leading multinational corporation for the supply of components for traction motors meant for export. ITD Cementation India declined 1.33%. The company announced that it has secured two major contracts cumulatively valued at approximately Rs 960 crore. New Listing: Shares of Oswal Pumps were settled at Rs 624.90 on the BSE, representing a premium of 1.78% compared with the issue price of Rs 614. The scrip was listed at 632, exhibiting a premium of 2.93% to the issue price. The stock hit a high of 649.15 and a low of 621.90. On the BSE, over 14.52 lakh shares of the company were traded. IPO Update: The initial public offer (IPO) of Arisinfra Solutions received bids for 3,45,71,397 shares as against 1,30,84,656 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 16:45 IST on Friday (20 June 2025). The issue was subscribed 2.64 times. The issue opened for bidding on Wednesday (18 June 2025) and it will close on Friday (20 June 2025). The price band of the IPO is fixed between Rs 210 and 222 per share. An investor can bid for a minimum of 67 equity shares and in multiples thereof.


Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Oil Drops as Trump Signals Iran Strike Decision Within Two Weeks
Oil slumped after President Donald Trump signaled a decision on whether to strike Iran will be made within two weeks, easing fears about an imminent attack from the US. Brent tumbled as much as 3.5% to trade below $77 a barrel, before clawing back some losses. The decision on Iran would take some time due to the 'substantial chance of negotiations,' Trump said in a message through the White House spokeswoman. It's been a turbulent week for the oil market, with futures swinging in a range of around $8, volatility spiking to the highest since 2022, key premiums significantly widening, and options at one stage more bullish than after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Brent closed almost 3% higher on Thursday, in a trading session that was shortened due to a US holiday, on concerns over a potential strike from the US over the weekend. Senior American officials had been preparing for the possibility of an attack, although the situation was still evolving, according to people familiar with the matter. 'We are highly skeptical that talks will materialize,' said Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, chief analyst at A/S Global Risk Management. 'All indications suggest that we are now entering a period of continued uncertainty over the next two weeks.' Israel has continued to attack Iran's nuclear sites, but for now the country's crude-exporting infrastructure remains unscathed. There are signs, however, that the OPEC producer is racing to get its oil out into the world, as storage tanks at the critical Kharg Island export terminal brim with crude. The biggest concern for the oil market centers on the Strait of Hormuz, but so far there are no signs that Tehran is seeking to disrupt shipping through the narrow waterway at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. About a fifth of the world's crude output passes through the strait. Trump is set to attend a National Security meeting on Friday morning, according to a daily schedule issued by the White House. Iran should never get a nuclear weapon, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X following a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to discuss the conflict. To get Bloomberg's Energy Daily newsletter in your inbox, click here. With assistance from Sarah Chen. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.


Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
U.S. stock market futures fall: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq fall on oil drop, Fed signals, and rising Iran–Israel tensions
U.S. stock market futures slipped early Thursday as the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq reacted to weaker oil prices, fading hopes of a Fed rate cut, and growing tensions between Iran and Israel with possible U.S. involvement. Investors are staying cautious after Fed officials hinted at just one rate cut in 2024, despite cooling inflation. The drop in Brent crude and a flight to safe assets like gold have added to market anxiety. With global headlines shifting quickly, traders are watching both Wall Street and the Middle East. Here's everything you need to know about what's moving the market today. U.S. stock market futures dipped as Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq reacted to falling oil, Fed signals, and Iran–Israel tensions. Here's what's driving the drop—and what it means for your money, gold, and Wall Street today. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads S&P 500 futures : down about 0.2% to 0.3% : down about Dow Jones futures : lower by roughly 0.15% (about 105 points) : lower by roughly (about 105 points) Nasdaq-100 futures: sliding around 0.3% What's driving the U.S. stock market futures down today? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Which major stocks are making headlines in pre-market trading? Stocks on the rise CarMax (KMX) jumped 10% after reporting strong earnings that beat Wall Street estimates. jumped after reporting strong earnings that beat Wall Street estimates. Circle Internet (CRCL) rose 9.7% on investor optimism around a new digital payment initiative. rose on investor optimism around a new digital payment initiative. Tesla (TSLA) gained 1.6% , with excitement building over its robotaxi unveiling event in Texas later this year. gained , with excitement building over its robotaxi unveiling event in Texas later this year. GMS Inc. (GMS) popped 29% after reports surfaced that Home Depot is preparing a takeover bid. popped after reports surfaced that is preparing a takeover bid. Coinbase (COIN) is up about 2.2%, thanks to renewed momentum in the crypto market. Stocks losing ground Accenture (ACN) slid 3.7% on weaker-than-expected bookings guidance, signaling slowing enterprise demand. slid on weaker-than-expected bookings guidance, signaling slowing enterprise demand. Smith & Wesson (SWHC) dropped a steep 13% following a quarterly earnings miss. dropped a steep following a quarterly earnings miss. Regencell Bioscience (RGC) tumbled almost 19.5% as investors reacted to disappointing clinical updates. How are oil and gold prices reacting to market uncertainty? Oil cools down after earlier spike Brent crude was last down nearly $2 , trading at around $76.96 a barrel was last down nearly , trading at around WTI crude is also trending lower but remains up roughly 3.8% for the week Gold slips as risk appetite recovers slightly Gold futures were down about 1.15% in early Friday trading The drop follows a two-week rally sparked by global uncertainty and a weaker dollar What economic data and market trends should traders watch today? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 1. The Philly Fed Index 2. Consumer Sentiment 3. Interest rate speculation 4. Tech and energy stock movement What should investors watch today? Key economic data: Keep an eye on the Philly Fed manufacturing index and other leading indicators expected later today. Keep an eye on the and other leading indicators expected later today. Oil prices: Any flare-up in the Middle East could push crude sharply higher, impacting inflation forecasts and energy stocks. Any flare-up in the Middle East could push crude sharply higher, impacting inflation forecasts and energy stocks. Gold: A further dip might signal reduced market fear — or strengthen the U.S. dollar's trend. A further dip might signal reduced market fear — or strengthen the U.S. dollar's trend. Earnings: Watch for more surprise moves from tech, industrials, and consumer stocks throughout the session. Where does the U.S. stock market stand heading into the weekend? U.S. stock market futures are drifting slightly lower this morning, June 20, as traders weigh a mix of earnings surprises, falling oil prices, and fresh uncertainty over rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. With inflation data, Fed policy expectations, and crude volatility all in focus, investors are staying cautious ahead of the opening around 7:30 a.m. ET, Dow Jones futures were down about 105 points, or 0.15%, while S&P 500 futures dipped around 0.2%. Nasdaq-100 futures slipped nearly 0.3%, dragged by tech-sector pressure and global risk are treading carefully ahead of new economic data and uncertainty surrounding potential U.S. military involvement in the Middle East no single reason why markets are down this morning—it's a mix of headlines. The biggest drag comes from geopolitical uncertainty. After reports of Israeli military strikes in Iran earlier this week, oil prices surged briefly. Now, as things cool slightly, traders are rebalancing Trump is expected to make a key decision within the next two weeks on whether the U.S. will directly assist Israel militarily, which could have ripple effects across oil markets, defense stocks, and global equities. According to CNBC, this is one of the key concerns for investors trying to understand where markets could go there's the Federal Reserve. The central bank held interest rates steady this week but continued with a hawkish tone, suggesting it's still not ready to cut aggressively. Traders in the futures market now price in about 47 basis points of rate cuts by the end of 2025, with around 59% odds of a September rate cut, according to CME Group's FedWatch big-name companies are seeing sharp moves ahead of the trading session. Some are soaring, while others are tumbling after disappointing results or markets are still feeling the aftershocks of this week's geopolitical headlines. Prices rose earlier in the week when Israeli airstrikes hit Iran, but today they're easing in the week, Brent surged as high asamid fears of escalating conflict, but the pullback suggests markets are hoping tensions won't spiral further—for often seen as a safe-haven investment, is also heading investors haven't fully backed off gold yet. If geopolitical fears pick back up or the Fed surprises markets, gold could spike have several key things to keep their eye on as Friday trading gets Philadelphia Fed's manufacturing report will be released today. It's a leading indicator of economic health and can offer clues about whether the economy is slowing or holding for any updates in consumer behavior or retail data, which could hint at the strength of upcoming earnings for consumer-facing officials remain cautious about inflation, and today's commentary from Fed speakers could shift expectations again. As of this morning, markets still lean toward a, but nothing is stocks are struggling this morning, weighed down by broader market tension. Meanwhile, energy stocks could swing based on oil's path. Companies like, andmay see volatility throughout the in a wait-and-watch mode. With the Fed not offering immediate relief, global conflicts brewing, and oil and gold reacting to every headline, there's little room for should stay focused on key economic reports, earnings announcements, and geopolitical developments. As we close out the week, sentiment appears cautious—but not panicked. A lot depends on how the next 24 to 48 hours unfold in the Middle East and Washington.