India-US energy partnership can accelerate path to USD 500 billion bilateral trade by 2030: USIBC-Grant Thornton Bharat report

The US-India Business Council (USIBC), in collaboration with Grant Thornton Bharat, has released a new report titled, Strengthening the India-US Energy Partnership: Unlocking Hydrocarbon Opportunities through Investment and Collaboration. The report identifies hydrocarbons as a key driver of the shared ambition to expand bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 and highlights how the India-US energy relationship is evolving from a traditional buyer-seller model into a strategic partnership spanning trade, investment, technology, infrastructure and energy security across the hydrocarbon value chain.

The findings point to significant opportunities to deepen collaboration across LNG, crude oil, LPG, ethane and propane, while unlocking new avenues for investment, strengthening energy security and enhancing supply chain resilience for both countries.

The evolution of the India-US energy relationship reflects the broader trajectory of our bilateral partnership, moving from transactional engagement to deeper strategic integration. As trusted partners, India and the United States are uniquely positioned to collaborate across energy, technology and investment to strengthen energy security, support economic growth, and create new pathways for expanding bilateral trade in the years ahead.

Rahul Sharma,
Managing Director, USIBC India

The India-US energy partnership is entering a new phase, one that extends beyond commodity trade to deeper collaboration across investment, technology, infrastructure and supply chains. As India's energy needs continue to grow and the United States expands its role as a leading energy producer, hydrocarbons can serve as a powerful catalyst for advancing the shared goal of USD 500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. The opportunity now is to build a more integrated energy ecosystem that strengthens energy security, accelerates industrial growth and creates long-term value for both economies.

Amit Kumar,
Partner and Energy and Renewables Industry Leader, Grant Thornton Bharat

To realise the full potential of the partnership, the report recommends action across three priority areas:

• Expanding the scale and value of bilateral hydrocarbon trade.
• Creating a more attractive and predictable investment environment for energy companies in both countries.
• Diversifying supply chains to strengthen long-term energy security and resilience.

The analysis identifies substantial opportunities for US investment across India's hydrocarbon ecosystem, including upstream exploration and production, LNG infrastructure, city gas distribution networks, gas-based power generation and downstream petrochemical development. It also points to opportunities for Indian companies to strengthen their presence in the US energy sector through investments in LNG export facilities, upstream oil and gas assets, shale resources and petrochemical feedstock chains.

Among the key recommendations is the establishment of an India-US AI-Powered Energy Task Force to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies across the hydrocarbon sector. Priority areas include AI-driven energy forecasting, seismic interpretation, exploration optimisation, predictive maintenance and digital twin technologies for real-time asset monitoring and operational efficiency.

The paper also advocates deeper cooperation on Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs), recognising their growing importance in safeguarding economies against global supply disruptions. Greater collaboration in storage infrastructure, emergency response planning, inventory management and reserve financing could strengthen energy resilience while advancing broader bilateral energy security objectives.

As India's natural gas demand continues to rise and the United States expands its LNG export capacity, the report notes that the two countries are uniquely positioned to build one of the world's most consequential energy partnerships. By aligning policy priorities, scaling investment flows and deepening technology collaboration, India and the United States can strengthen energy security, unlock new economic opportunities and accelerate progress toward their shared trade and growth ambitions.

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