Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to Establish National Hydrocarbon Technology Hub

The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is setting up a National Hydrocarbon Technology Hub to strengthen research and development (R&D) in the oil and gas sector and accelerate the commercialisation of research outcomes. Joint Secretary Alok Tripathi announced the initiative on Wednesday while speaking on the sidelines of the 29th Energy Technology Meet (ETM) 2026 in Goa.

The event convened more than 2,500 participants and approximately 250 speakers. It featured an exhibition highlighting technologies spanning the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the oil and gas industry, alongside green molecules such as compressed biogas.

Highlighting the focus of the gathering, Tripathi noted that the theme, 'From Research to Commercialization,' underscores the necessity of converting research findings into commercially viable technologies. As part of this effort, the ministry has signed memorandums of understanding with academic institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT), to bolster research support.

Under the new initiative, the ministry will sponsor up to 100 PhD scholars working within the oil and gas sector. This backing is designed to allow researchers to dedicate more time to R&D, potentially establishing a robust academic research ecosystem targeted at addressing industry-related challenges over the next five years. Additionally, the meet served as a platform for global technology providers to review India's policy reforms and investment opportunities in the sector.

Addressing refining efficiency, Tripathi stated that operational performance is increasingly aligning with sustainability goals. Indian oil companies are collaborating with global technology providers to integrate energy-efficient technologies while simultaneously pursuing in-house development.

'We no longer wish to have a traditional association where the foreign companies are selling the technology and we are buying the technology. We don't want to have buyer seller kind of relationship,' Tripathi said.

India aims to cultivate long-term partnerships with global technology providers and experts to foster domestic technology development. According to the ministry, cultivating these technologies within the country can help lower costs, with the ultimate financial benefits being passed on to consumers.

"The establishment of the National Hydrocarbon Technology Hub marks a strategic shift from traditional tech procurement to indigenous innovation and long-term global partnerships. By bridging the gap between academic research and commercial application—and by supporting PhD scholars—the Ministry is laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth and efficiency in the energy sector. For businesses and technology innovators in the ecosystem, this opens up significant collaborative opportunities to build cost-effective, locally developed solutions." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes