India refuses energy-use limits, cites low per capita consumption

It argues that developing countries need to increase energy consumption for growth and calls for international cooperation in stabilizing markets, developing renewables, and enabling civilian nuclear cooperation.

Who it concerns: India, the G-8 countries, other developing countries, and outreach countries. It concerns the energy sector, including oil and gas, renewable energy (hydro, wind, solar), nuclear energy, and petrochemical industries. It also involves R&D institutions and international research centers.

What was agreed

• India projects needing to increase primary energy supply by 3-4 times and electricity supply by 5-7 times by 2031 to sustain 8-10% economic growth.
• Call for stabilization of oil and gas markets through transparency, data access, and mutual cross-investment in infrastructure (exploration, pipelines, refineries).
• Proposal to develop additional supply routes via LNG and transnational pipelines, requiring joint funding and equitable tariffs.
• Advocacy for the creation of a regional Asian market for petroleum and petrochemical products to allow risk hedging.
• Request for the G-8 to support adjustments to international regimes to enable full civilian nuclear cooperation with India.
• Proposal to establish a knowledge network for energy R&D, modeled on the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research, with collaborative work available to developing countries free of charge.
• Call for G-8 seed funding to support the proposed R&D network.

Also in the document

• India explicitly states it cannot accept any commitment that limits the growth of its energy consumption or dictates a specific pattern of energy use.
• The document highlights that India's per capita energy consumption is one-fifth of OECD levels and per capita electricity consumption is one-twentieth.
• India requests the international community to abandon reservations regarding hydro-power, citing its potential as a renewable source for developing countries.
• The text notes that Asia accounts for roughly half of global oil production and will soon be the largest energy-consuming region.