India’s G20 agenda is inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive and that India will endeavour to utilise the G20 presidency to give resonance to the voice of the global south and to highlight the common concerns of energy security, energy justice, sustainable energy transition so that all developing countries can gain reliable and clean energy said Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep S. Puri addressing the Energy Ministers’ session of “Voice of Global South Summit–2023” themed as “Energy Security and development: Roadmap to Prosperity”.

The session had representation of the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Energy/Petroleum Ministers from Algeria, Bahrain, Belarus, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Namibia, Somalia, Syria, Vanuatu, Venezuela, and Deputy Minister of Azerbaijan.

The summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12th January 2023 as an important group of nations to collaborate on political, economic, social, environmental, cultural, and technical issues.

All the Energy Ministers appreciated India’s efforts to raise the concerns of Global South and echoed that the world requires more sustainable energy models constituting the entire energy ecosystem to continue the momentum of economic development.

Hardeep S. Puri also raised concerns of the unprecedented crisis of 3F of ‘Food, Fuel, and Fertilizer’, and enumerated the number of steps which India has taken to insulate from the extreme price volatility including diversification of supplies, increase of alternate energy sources like biofuels, ethanol, CBG, increasing E&P footprint along with focus on domestic production; and meeting energy targets through EVs and Hydrogen.

India expressed willingness to support the partners in the global south by sharing experiences, best practices and providing cutting edge technology in the field of biofuels, hydrogen, solar including patented technology of indoor solar cooking system to ensure energy security, transition, and shared development goals.

Minister underscored the associated benefits of biofuels, solar, One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative and sought support from partners of Global south towards creating the “Global Biofuel Alliance” under G20 and joining the International Solar Alliance to strengthen the cooperation in renewable energy.

The Voice of Global South Summit is aimed at achieving “Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose” and is in line with Prime Minister’s vision to shape a positive G20 agenda through consultation with G20 countries and members of the global south.