Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri concluded a “fruitful and productive” visit to Iceland, emphasizing the shared spirit of innovation and positive engagement between India and the Nordic nation.
Puri’s visit included a dinner hosted by Bergdis Ellertsdottir, Deputy Permanent Secretary of State of Iceland. The event was also attended by Icelandic Ambassador to India Benedikt Hoskuldsson and several key figures from the fields of energy, trade, and multilateral relations.
Expressing gratitude on social media, Puri wrote, “India & Iceland may be geographically apart, but we share the common spirit of innovation and positive energy to take our people towards a glorious future.”
He praised the warmth and hospitality extended by the people and energy professionals of Iceland and underlined the growing bilateral engagement in sectors like sustainable energy and technological collaboration.
Before visiting Iceland, the Union Minister participated in the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, Austria, where he showcased India’s ambitious roadmap to expand hydrocarbons exploration. Puri revealed India’s plans to increase its exploration acreage to 0.5 million sq km by 2025 and 1 million sq km by 2030, with a strong focus on the Andaman Sea, which is believed to hold immense untapped potential.
He informed that under OALP Round-10, 2.5 lakh sq km of area has been opened for exploration, adding that India could be on the brink of discovering a Guyana-scale oilfield.
At the seminar, the minister addressed a session on “Oil Markets: Energy Security, Growth, and Prosperity,” engaging with global energy leaders and stakeholders to promote India’s energy agenda and commitment to meeting future demand through exploration and innovation.
The Iceland visit and OPEC seminar participation together mark India’s dual push for international energy cooperation and domestic exploration expansion.