Quad energy ministers to meet on G20 sidelines
The Quad grouping, consisting of India, Japan, Australia and United States, announced plans to convene the Fuel Security Forum at the G20 summit
For the first time, energy ministers from India, Japan, Australia, and the United States will convene on the sidelines of the G20 energy ministerial meeting in Houston in the third week of September, according to HT sources. This marks the inaugural meeting of the Quad's Fuel Security Forum as the nations strive to bolster their energy security amidst ongoing conflicts in West Asia.
Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar is expected to represent India at the gathering. The primary focus of the meeting will likely revolve around joint cooperation in strategic petroleum reserves, with the United States expressing interest in leasing space in its Strategic Petroleum Reserve to India and Japan. Additionally, the meeting may center on providing technical assistance to the Quad nations to augment their domestic reserves.
The Quad had announced plans to convene the Fuel Security Forum in May, following foreign minister meetings in New Delhi. This would be the first structured meeting of Quad ministers outside the foreign ministers dialogue. The Quad nations have pledged to support each other's energy needs and those of Indo-Pacific nations during periods of "restricted global energy markets."
The recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy conduit, due to the US-Iran war has been a key point of discussion since the foreign ministers' meeting in May. The Quad aims to aid regional nations' energy requirements, building upon India's energy diplomacy in South Asia and Japan and Australia's efforts in Southeast Asia.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
