US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R shared his views about energy priorities and the opportunities and challenges around critical minerals for the global energy transition
United States Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt said the US and India have a very strong focus on energy transition, and there is a lot of synergy between them to ensure an alternative supply chain, especially for renewables.
During a virtual press briefing, Pyatt shared his views about energy priorities and the opportunities and challenges around critical minerals for the global energy transition.
Pyatt, who visited India in January, spoke about energy transition, reliable supply chains, energy security, and advancing commercial cooperation with private sector partners in India's rapidly growing clean energy sector.
He said India is one of the US's most important energy relationships in the world.
He said he met Microsoft and renewable energy firm Greenko Group during his visit to Hyderabad last month, saying the progress in infrastructure was jaw-dropping.
He said that he was of the view that US-India relations in the energy sector are important to create alternative supply chains, especially in renewables.
He cited the example of the Russia-Ukraine war as a geopolitical reason for disrupting the energy supply chain.
He pointed towards China, the largest producer of renewable energy equipment like solar cells and modules, saying that there is a need for an alternative supply chain.
He also lauded Indian firms' efforts to produce electric three-wheelers.
He said these electric three-wheelers can be used for delivery in the US as well as in big cities like New York, where big trucks cannot go.
About cooperation between the US and India, he said he has been visiting the Shastri Bhavan (in New Delhi that houses the oil ministry) for the past 30 years but has never had such encouraging meetings.