India on Thursday hosted the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Gurugram, Haryana, under its BRICS Chairship 2026, bringing together energy ministers, vice ministers, and senior officials from member countries to discuss global energy challenges and strengthen cooperation in the sector.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Joint Communiqué, reaffirming cooperation in energy security, sustainability, innovation, resilient infrastructure, and capacity building.
Addressing the gathering, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said energy remains fundamental to economic growth, social progress, and human development. He stressed that developing countries require adequate time, resources, and policy space to achieve sustainable development while meeting the aspirations of their people. He also highlighted the need to respect national circumstances, development priorities, and diverse energy transition pathways.
Highlighting India’s energy transformation, the minister said the country has become the world’s third-largest producer and consumer of electricity, with an installed power capacity of nearly 540 gigawatts. He noted that non-fossil fuel sources now account for more than half of the installed capacity, while solar power capacity has grown from around 3 gigawatts in 2014 to over 154 gigawatts.
A major outcome of India’s BRICS Chairship was the launch of the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage under the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform. The meeting also adopted the BRICS Guiding Principles on Smart Grids and Energy Storage and welcomed progress in finalising the BRICS Joint Report on Hydrogen Value Chains 2026, aimed at strengthening cooperation in emerging energy technologies.
