India Aims to Become Global Hub for Clean‑Energy Equipment Production
New Delhi, August 6 — Union Steel and Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumar Swamy addressed a plenary on “Energy Security and Supply Chain” at the 7th CII International Energy Conference, stating that India should transform into a global producer of clean‑energy technology. He argued that a country’s power in a rapidly changing world is measured not only by access to energy resources but also by the ability to manufacture, innovate and maintain a robust supply chain for future‑oriented technologies.
During his speech, Kumar Swamy outlined the government’s strategy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to develop India as a worldwide manufacturing hub for clean‑energy solutions. He emphasized that industrial capacity and energy security are now inseparable.
He warned that recent geopolitical upheavals, supply‑chain disruptions and fierce competition for critical minerals have altered global industrial priorities. Strengthening manufacturing and technical capabilities, he said, is essential for national economic security.
Through the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" framework, India is responding to these global shifts by staying deeply linked with reliable international value chains while building competitive domestic manufacturing capabilities.
"India must not only be the biggest consumer of clean‑energy technology, but also the leading producer of the equipment, materials and know‑how that will accelerate the global energy transition," Kumar Swamy asserted.
He highlighted the importance of the steel and heavy‑industry ministries, noting that achieving the country’s energy ambitions requires a strong manufacturing ecosystem encompassing steel, heavy engineering, batteries, transformers, power equipment, electric mobility, construction machinery and advanced industrial technology.
Steel, he explained, is the backbone of the clean‑energy transition. Every major renewable‑energy investment—be it solar parks, wind turbines, transmission networks, battery plants, port upgrades or green‑hydrogen projects—relies fundamentally on steel.
As the world’s second‑largest steel producer, India is well‑positioned to meet rising infrastructure and manufacturing demand while also supplying sustainable steel to meet global requirements. Kumar Swamy stressed the need for a swift shift to low‑carbon steel production, citing both environmental and economic imperatives.
The central government is promoting greater renewable‑energy integration in steelmaking, energy‑efficient technologies, improved resource efficiency and rapid decarbonisation across the steel value chain to ensure Indian steel remains globally competitive.
In the heavy‑industry sector, the minister argued that simply expanding renewable‑energy generation is insufficient. India must also reinforce domestic manufacturing across advanced batteries, heavy power equipment, construction gear, automotive manufacturing and energy‑storage systems.
He referenced the PM E‑Drive scheme, a ₹10,900 crore programme aimed at creating an end‑to‑end electric‑mobility ecosystem rather than merely encouraging vehicle adoption. The initiative is simultaneously generating demand and strengthening localisation, manufacturing capacity and supply‑chain durability.
Kumar Swamy also highlighted the Production‑Linked Incentive (PLI) for advanced cell batteries, pledging ₹18,100 crore to establish 50 GW of domestic battery capacity. He said these investments reduce reliance on imported battery technology and build manufacturing capabilities capable of competing globally, thereby laying the foundation for long‑term energy security.
Recognising that access to critical minerals has become a strategic necessity, the minister noted India’s drive to deepen international collaboration in rare‑earth processing, advanced materials and mineral processing. He cited a ₹7,280 crore plan to promote permanent‑magnet manufacturing for sectors such as automotive, defence, renewable energy and aerospace, securing supply chains and cutting import dependence.
Concluding, Kumar Swamy called for deep cooperation among government, industry, academia, research institutions and financial organisations, stressing that a resilient supply chain cannot be built by policy changes alone.