India must recognise its strength as a buyer of oil and become a price maker and not a price taker, said P Elango, Managing Director, Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Ltd.
The country needs to transform into a gas-based economy, he said, adding that “We need a ‘Drill in India’ campaign under the umbrella of ‘Make in India’ as two thirds of India’s sedimentary basins are unexplored.''
Elango was speaking at the 16th Energy Summit of Indian oil and gas sector on the theme ‘Towards favourable investment regime’.
Mrinal Vohra, Managing Director, Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure, stressed on the need of a friendly policy regime for people to invest in exploration and production (E&P) activity in the domestic market.
“Investment in oil and gas and E&P are capital intensive and therefore there is long-term requirement for paybacks. We need to categorise this as infrastructure sector so that there is long-term access to capital. Requirements for re-exports of capital assets also need to be amended,” Vohra said.
T N R Rao, Former Petroleum Secretary and Chairman, SAGE, said, “Energy, its price and its efficiency are critical for the success of Make in India campaign.”