Amitabh Kant says India needs energy independence to achieve strategic autonomy

Indian official Amitabh Kant said energy independence is India’s top strategic priority, warning that the country’s $180 billion a year fossil-fuel import bill leaves it exposed to swings in global oil prices. He urged India to sharply scale up renewable capacity from a 500 GW target to a 1,500 GW roadmap, expand nuclear power—especially small modular reactors—and build 24×7 storage. Kant also warned that clean-energy transitions could create new vulnerabilities if critical-mineral processing and battery supply chains are monopolised, and he underscored oil as a core import in India’s energy security framework.