Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with expanding access to energy in India, saying the country has seen greater energy access under his leadership than in any decade, region or country in human history.
Albanese also highlighted the strengthening relationship between India and Australia, saying Modi was someone with whom Australia had developed close ties. His remarks came after the government reviewed the impact of the West Asia conflict on the economy, supply chains and essential commodities, and discussed measures to minimise disruptions for citizens and businesses. Addressing the Lok Sabha during the budget session in May, PM Modi said India had previously imported energy from 27 countries, but had since expanded the number to 41.
“To give PM Modi credit, more people have been given access to energy in India under his reign that any decade, or any region or any country in all of human history,” Albanese said at an Asia Society Policy Institute event. “He is someone who we have a strong relationship with,” he said. In April, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also said India was continuing to source oil from a diversified set of countries, keeping its energy security needs and global market conditions in mind. “We continue to buy oil from diversified sources, keeping in mind the energy security needs of 1.4 billion people, the current situation in the international market, and the global situation we have to deal with,” Jaiswal said during an inter-ministerial briefing on developments in West Asia.
