Delhi, 20 May (H.S.): Manohar Lal, the Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, led the Indian Delegation at the BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Brasília on 19 May 2025, under Brazil’s Presidency. He emphasized energy security as a pressing challenge and underscored the necessity for enhanced BRICS cooperation to ensure global economic stability, sustainability, and equitable energy access. Lal reaffirmed India’s commitment to a sustainable and inclusive energy future, praising Brazil’s leadership, themed ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.’ He highlighted the importance of energy security, access, and affordability for advancing global development goals.
Lal showcased India’s achievements in clean energy: a 90% increase in electricity capacity over a decade, reaching 475 GW in 2025, with a target of 900 GW by 2032; becoming the third-largest producer of solar and wind energy; progressing towards Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); hitting a 20% ethanol blending milestone; investing in smart grids and the Green Energy Corridor; ambitious goals for green hydrogen and nuclear energy, including a 100 GW nuclear target by 2047; and launching a domestic Carbon Credit Market to invite global collaboration.
He emphasized the Global Biofuels Alliance’s role in fostering cooperation in biofuels and highlighted India’s energy efficiency initiatives such as the Energy Conservation Sustainable Buildings Code and rooftop solar programs. Lal acknowledged the essential role of fossil fuels in the global energy mix for developing nations and called for cooperation to promote their cleaner use through technologies like coal gasification and carbon capture. He concluded by inviting BRICS nations to the next Energy Gathering in India in 2026, reaffirming India’s leadership in the Global South’s energy agenda.
The BRICS Energy Ministers, through the Energy Ministerial Communiqué, emphasized their dedication to enhancing energy security and promoting UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), which aims for universal electricity access, clean cooking, and addressing energy poverty. They recognized the necessity of equitable energy transitions to combat climate change while acknowledging the continuing use of fossil fuels in developing nations, stressing the significance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with SDG 7 and broader climate goals, rooted in technological neutrality and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR-RC).
The Ministers advocated for stronger partnerships and supported non-discriminatory international energy markets, promoting the use of local currencies in trade. They acknowledged the essential role of the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform and welcomed the revised BRICS Roadmap for Energy Cooperation (2025–2030) for enhanced collaboration.
Affirming each nation’s right to dictate its own energy transition, they encouraged the efficient use of diverse energy sources and called for increased concessional financing from developed to developing countries, highlighting the New Development Bank (NDB)’s role in fostering sustainable energy infrastructure.
They also called for fair guidelines for evaluating carbon intensity and mutual recognition of energy taxonomies. Recognizing energy security as crucial for socio-economic growth, they underscored the importance of market stability, resilient infrastructure, diversified energy sources, and critical minerals for clean technologies. The Ministers reaffirmed their ambition to double energy efficiency by 2030 and stressed the need for closer cooperation among BRICS nations. Finally, they committed to bolstering BRICS’ global energy influence and advancing shared priorities under India’s Chairmanship in 2026.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
