Dependence on Imports

India’s dependence on imports is definitely seen as undesirable for energy security; however, self-sufficiency in energy is not easily achievable. The challenge posed by high dependence on imports is that these have to manoeuvre through difficult neighbourhoods. Disruption of supplies has always been a big concern for India.

• Apart from the increasing volatility of the neighbouring West Asia, the geopolitical challenges of India’s immediate neighbourhood also create energy vulnerabilities that its diplomacy needs to address. This is particularly true for the import of hydrocarbons from Russia and the Central Asian countries, which are affected by India-AfPak dynamics. Therefore, while these Central Asian countries are high on India’s energy diplomacy agenda, it is equally important to link these to the larger foreign policy goals of engaging the neighbourhood.
• The other challenge for India is to move away from this image of import dependence and reframe the relationship with its energy suppliers as one of interdependence. This can be observed in India’s energy diplomacy, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the oil rich countries of Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan trying to sell India as an alternative energy market of growing importance rather than a nation struggling to meet its energy demand.