By Team Newscript
- India Deepens Nuclear Ambitions with Private Sector Drive and SMR Expansion
New Delhi — In a significant advancement of its clean‑energy strategy, India’s Power Minister Manohar L. Khattar and Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh convened on 9 August 2025 to review the roadmap for expanding nuclear energy from the current 8.8 GW to 22 GW by 2032 . A key development: the Bharat Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme has garnered robust interest from industry, prompting the government to extend the Request for Proposal deadline to 30 September 2025 to accommodate wider participation
This initiative signals a broader shift toward private‑sector integration in India’s nuclear ambitions—a strategic pivot designed to infuse capital, expedite approval cycles, and bolster energy resilience . The high‑level meeting also fast‑tracked decisions from the Consultative Committee in April, tightening regulatory timelines and improving administrative coordination
The expansion strategy aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s larger 100 GW nuclear energy mission, reaffirming India’s dual pursuit of low‑carbon growth and energy security. As the sector opens up to new participants and SMR technologies, the extended deadline is expected to produce a stronger pipeline of proposals, setting the stage for a pivotal leap toward India’s evolving energy landscape.
- Government Greenlights ₹30,000-Crore LPG Loss Compensation and ₹12,000-Crore Ujjwala Extension
New Delhi — The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹30,000‑crore compensation package for state oil marketing companies (OMCs) to offset under‑recoveries from selling subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to consumers, ensuring supply stability amid volatile global markets . In tandem, a ₹12,000‑crore allocation will continue the targeted ₹300 per‑cylinder LPG subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for 2025–26, offering up to nine subsidised refills annually for eligible households.
The measures come as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to maintain affordable access to clean cooking fuel for millions—10.33 crore Ujjwala beneficiaries as of July 2025 . Together, the two interventions total ₹42,000 crore in fiscal support to underpin energy affordability and protect vulnerable populations
Officials note this dual structure provides both operational relief to OMCs and direct consumer subsidy, balancing fiscal prudence with social welfare objectives. The compensation package, to be disbursed over multiple tranches, aims to mitigate financial strain on providers while preserving the momentum of clean‑energy adoption across India’s low‑income communities.
- Refiners Pivot from Russian Oil, Procuring 22 Million Barrels of Non-Russian Crude
New Delhi — Under mounting international pressure, key Indian refiners Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) have collectively purchased 22 million barrels of non‑Russian crude oil slated for September‑October delivery—a clear signal of India shifting away from Moscow‑sourced supplies .
IOC secured multiple cargoes including U.S. Mars crude, Brazilian grades, and Libyan crude—highlighting a diversified procurement effort BPCL, meanwhile, booked 9 million barrels for September arrival through bilateral negotiations, expanding supply options beyond traditional sources.
Strategic analysts caution that while Indian refiners can technically operate without Russian oil, doing so entails complex trade‑offs: cost differentials, logistical adjustments, and altered refining economics . Nevertheless, this pivot underscores India’s growing alignment with global energy realignments amid geopolitical developments.
- Coal India Delivers Record 781 Mt Output in FY 2024-25, Eyes 1 Gt Horizon
New Delhi — Coal India Limited (CIL) achieved its highest-ever annual production in FY 2024‑25, reaching 781 million tonnes, a nearly 1 percent increase over the previous fiscal but approximately 7 percent short of its 838‑Mt target.
Despite narrowly miss.ing the target, the output bump demonstrates CIL’s incremental progress. The company has ambitious expansion plans, targeting 1 billion tonnes of annual coal production by FY 2028‑29, backed by allocations for new projects, land acquisitions, environmental clearances, and logistics enhancements .
Given India’s reliance on coal for baseload power generation, CIL’s trajectory remains critical to meeting rising domestic demand. With infrastructure build‑out already underway and regulatory support lining up, the company is poised to anchor India’s energy security over the coming decade.
- Green Ammonia Auctions Hit Record-Low Tariffs, Bolstering India’s Clean Energy Push
New Delhi — Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, India’s first-ever green ammonia auction conducted by SECI delivered a benchmark tariff of ₹55.75/kg, a dramatic decline from prior prices near ₹100/kg—creating a new benchmark for clean energy competitiveness.
Not stopping there, a subsequent second auction recorded an even lower tariff of ₹51.8/kg (~US$0.59/kg), signalling growing developer confidence and robust market dynamics in the fledgling green hydrogen ecosystem.
Experts see these record‑low rates as indicative of India’s earnest stride toward cost‑effective green hydrogen and ammonia production, which could reshape export potential and position the country as a competitive clean‑energy hub .
- Adani Power Wins $3 Billion Bid for 2.4 GW Coal Station in Bihar
Bhagalpur — Adani Power has secured a Letter of Intent to develop a 2,400 MW (2.4 GW) coal‑fired plant in Bihar’s Pirpainti region, entailing a roughly $3 billion investment, making it the most significant private‑sector coal power initiative in India in over a decade.
Structured under a greenfield, ultra‑supercritical (USC) Design‑Build‑Finance‑Own‑Operate (DBFOO) model, the plant will deliver 2,274 MW to Bihar’s state grid, with commissioning slated between 2029 and 2030. Power will be supplied at just over ₹6 per kWh, reinforcing affordability angles for state utilities.
This project underscores Bihar’s growing prominence in India’s energy expansion and signifies Adani Power’s strategic eastern push as it diversifies its thermal portfolio.
- Reliance Infra Secures ₹28,483-Crore Recovery of Unpaid Power Dues for Delhi Discoms
New Delhi — In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has allowed Reliance Infrastructure–controlled BSES Yamuna and BSES Rajdhani to recover approximately ₹28,483 crore in regulatory assets over four years, beginning April 2024. The recovery will be implemented through revised electricity tariffs following audits and a DERC-sanctioned roadmap.
These dues stem from past non‑cost‑reflective tariffs and deferred payments. The ruling provides a structured remedy but raises concerns over potential tariff hikes for Delhi’s 5.3 million electricity users.
Consumers and advocacy groups have decried the magnitude of the recovery, calling it a steep financial burden given the city’s past unresolved charges and longstanding tariff issues.
- Norway Launches First Oil & Gas Licensing Round Since 2021 to Open Frontier Acreage
To be developed upon request
Germany’s Uniper Slashes Investment to €5 Billion, Targets 15–20 GW by 2030
Germany’s state-backed utility Uniper has reset its strategy, committing €5 billion (~US$5.8 billion) through 2030 for renewables and gas-fired power—a sharp reduction from its prior €8 billion plan amid regulatory and hydrogen market delays .
The firm aims to reach 15–20 GW of generation capacity by 2030, with at least half from green sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and carbon‑neutral nuclear/gas assets. Furthermore, its LNG portfolio will expand to 250–300 TWh annually, supported by strategic diversification in response to evolving market dynamics .
- Israel’s Leviathan Signs Historic $35 Billion Gas Supply Deal with Egypt
Israel’s Leviathan field has signed a landmark $35 billion agreement to supply 130 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas to Egypt through 2040—a deal set to become the largest ever in Israel’s energy export history .
The field, which began operations in 2020 and previously committed to an initial 60 bcm deal, has already delivered 23.5 bcm. The new arrangement not only boosts regional energy integration but also underscores Leviathan’s strategic centrality in Mediterranean gas markets .
- Energy Transfer Greenlights $5.3 Billion Desert-Southwest Pipeline to Boost Permian Gas to U.S. Southwest
Energy Transfer has approved a $5.3 billion expansion of its Transwestern Pipeline—commonly referred to as the Desert-Southwest extension—to channel gas from the Permian Basin to Arizona and New Mexico. The 516-mile, 42-inch pipeline, equipped with nine compressor stations and a 1.5 bcf/day capacity, is slated to begin service in Q4 2029 .
Supported by long‑term contracts and projected to employ up to 5,000 unionized workers, the project will underpin the Southwest’s growing industrial, high‑tech, and data‑centre energy demands while prioritizing U.S. steel and manufacturing inputs.