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The hydrocarbon sector in India: a primer

Oil is the lifeblood of modern Indian society; its importance in the daily lives of citizens is steadily increasing. At the same time, natural gas is gaining in importance worldwide due to its environment-friendliness and lower cost as compared to oil. Together, oil and natural gas account for about 31 percent of India's total energy consumption. The proportion is projected to rise. Several future energy scenarios are possible based on different assumptions, such as better demand-side management and accelerating use of renewable energy. In each scenario, the share of hydrocarbons in India's energy basket is predicted to rise due to the steady population and economic growth. This report gives a brief description of the current status of India's hydrocarbon sector and highlights its key challenges.