Supreme Court to Hear ED Plea to Cancel Bail to West Bengal Coal Scam 'Kingpin'
The Supreme Court agreed to hear the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea to cancel the bail of Anup Majee, the alleged kingpin of West Bengal’s coal‑smuggling network. Majee’s anticipatory bail, granted by the Delhi High Court in June 2025, will remain in effect until a hearing scheduled for September. The ED claims Majee siphoned roughly ₹2,700 crore (about $325 million) and is linked to pay‑offs of around ₹1,300 crore ($156 million) to senior Trinamool Congress officials. A diary recovered from his accountant allegedly details coded entries amounting to ₹1,350 crore ($162 million).
India Accounts for over 60% of Upcoming Coal-Based Steelmaking Capacity Globally: Report
India is responsible for more than 60% of the world’s newly announced coal‑based blast‑furnace steelmaking capacity, according to Global Energy Monitor’s sixth annual report. Globally, 319 mtpa of coal‑based capacity is under construction or announced, a 5% rise year‑over‑year, while only...
India to Shrink Zones Around Nuclear Reactors to Free up Land, Sources Say
India is set to shrink the 1‑km exclusion zones around its nuclear reactors, freeing up land for new units and private investment. The reduction could cut land requirements by half for large reactors and by two‑thirds for smaller ones, potentially...
Iran-Linked LPG Tanker Signals Indian Ownership Through Hormuz
The LPG tanker Tara Gas, previously linked to Iranian cargoes, is transiting the Strait of Hormuz while declaring Indian crew and ownership. Tracking data show it moving northeast from Dubai, fully laden with LPG on a Tehran‑approved route past Larak Island....
After PM Modi’s WFH Appeal, Nitin Gadkari Has This Message for Indians to Save Fuel Amid Iran War
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a renewed work‑from‑home push to curb petrol and diesel consumption as tensions rise in the Middle East, particularly the Iran conflict. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari echoed the plea, urging Indians to shift to public...
Hormuz, Hydrocarbons, and India: What the Current West Asia Conflict Means for Indian Oil and Gas Markets
The West Asia conflict has highlighted India’s heavy reliance on oil, LNG and LPG imports that flow through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint handling roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil trade. About 88% of India’s crude, 60% of...
Natrinai Ventures Commissions 75 MW Substation in Tamil Nadu Ahead of ₹133 Crore IPO
Natrinai Ventures, operating under the NGE Green Energy brand, commissioned its fourth 75 MW, 110 kV pooling substation in Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, linking to the Athanakottai 110/33 kV to 11 kV hub. The substation will improve plant load factors, ease transmission bottlenecks, and support long‑term...
Evening Peak Power Demand Exposes Gaps in India’s Energy Transition: Citi
Citi’s latest research warns that India’s power grid is now strained by evening and night‑time peaks as solar output wanes, even though overall shortages have fallen. Peak demand has surged from about 119 GW in 2010 to nearly 250 GW in 2025,...
Need of Hour Is to Use Petro Products with Restraint: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged India to use imported petrol, diesel, and gas with restraint as the West Asia crisis tightens global energy supplies. Speaking at the virtual inauguration of development projects worth about ₹9,400 crore ($1.1 bn) in Telangana, he linked...
Power Cuts Hit Several Neighbourhoods in Chennai as Strong Winds & Mild Showers Affect Distribution Network
Strong winds and light showers on Saturday disrupted Chennai's electricity distribution network, causing localized outages across neighborhoods such as Perambur, Kilpauk, and Maduravoyal. Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL) reported that 22 power feeders, eight transformers, and 12 insulators tripped,...
Queue & A: CNG Drivers Line up for Answers as Demand Beats Supply
Commuters in Bhopal are confronting two‑hour queues at the city’s 28 CNG pumps, a stark contrast to the 191 petrol and diesel stations available. Demand for compressed natural gas has tripled over the past three years, yet supply has not...
Fuel Price Hike Coming? Oil PSUs Losing Almost ₹30,000 Cr per Month
Indian state‑run oil firms are absorbing roughly ₹30,000 crore ($3.6 bn) in monthly losses by selling petrol, diesel and LPG below market rates. Crude oil prices have jumped from about $69 a barrel in February to $114.4 last month, while the rupee’s...
India May Soon Increase Ethanol Blending in Petrol to 25%. Here’s What Consumers Should Know
India is weighing a jump from a 20% to a 25% ethanol blend in petrol, a move accelerated by West‑Asia tensions that have spiked global crude prices. The existing 20% blend has already saved roughly 45 million barrels of crude and...
India May Spend ₹1 Lakh Crore in 10 Weeks to Shield Economy From Global Energy Shock
State‑owned oil marketers Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum are absorbing roughly ₹1,600‑₹1,700 crore ($190‑$205 million) in daily losses to keep petrol, diesel and LPG prices at two‑year‑old levels. Over the ten‑week period since the Middle‑East war began, the cumulative under‑recovery...
NTPC Prepares First Feasibility Study for Nuclear Project; to Apply for Approval Soon
NTPC Ltd will soon file its first standalone nuclear feasibility study with India’s Department of Atomic Energy, seeking clearance to launch the project. The plan is part of a broader ambition to add at least 2 GW of nuclear capacity by...
JUSNL Move to Curb Power Cuts in 7 Districts
Jharkhand Urja Sancharan Nigam Ltd (JUSNL) has commissioned a 220 kV Govindpur‑Dumka single‑circuit line‑in‑line‑out (LILO) at the North Karanpura Transmission Ltd (NKTL) substation, unlocking up to 450 MW of power for the state. The line currently supplies about 103 MW to Dumka and...
NTPC Looks to List Arms NEEPCO, THDC by FY27
State‑owned power giant NTPC announced plans to list its subsidiaries THDC India and North Eastern Electric Power Corp (NEEPCO) on Indian stock exchanges by the close of the current financial year. The move follows NTPC’s recent listing of its green‑energy...
Women Set to Take the Wheel of 100-Tonne Coal Dumpers at SCCL Mines
Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has appointed 13 women as earthmover personnel (EP) operators in its opencast coal mines, marking the first such recruitment for heavy‑vehicle roles. The women completed a month‑long training program at the Telangana Institute of Driving...
Energy Expo Highlights Solar Expansion, AI-Driven Energy Sys
The Uttar Pradesh Energy Expo 2026 showcased the state’s aggressive push to scale solar power and embed artificial‑intelligence‑driven energy management across its grid. Policymakers and industry leaders discussed utility‑scale solar parks, rooftop solar under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, and agrivoltaic models linked...
Post Polls, Govt Faces Tough Fuel Price Call
India’s government is shouldering roughly ₹1,000 cr ($120 m) a day in crude‑price subsidies as Brent hovers above $100 per barrel, a stance that is becoming fiscally untenable. With the West Asia crisis keeping the Straits of Hormuz effectively closed, India’s 5.33 million‑tonne...
Southern Railway Rolls Out EV-Battery Swapping Facility at Suburban Stations
Southern Railway’s Chennai division is launching EV battery‑swapping stations across its suburban network, targeting key stations to boost last‑mile connectivity. Twenty‑one contracts have been awarded for a five‑year rollout, with operators responsible for installation, operation and maintenance. The model lets...
Tata Power Expands Bhutan Hydropower Partnership to over 5 GW
Tata Power has amended its MoU with Bhutan's Druk Green Power Corp to expand the joint clean‑energy portfolio to 5,033 MW of hydropower, up from 4,500 MW. The amendment adds a 404 MW Nyera Amari I & II project and brings the total pipeline to five...
Govt Says 101 Mineral Blocks Started Operations Since Auction Regime Began in 2015
The Ministry of Mines reported that 101 mineral blocks have been operational since India introduced the auction regime in 2015. The figure reflects coordinated efforts between the centre and states to fast‑track statutory clearances and production start‑ups. Odisha leads with...
Rupee Gains 36 Paise to a Dollar as Oil Retreats
The Indian rupee rallied more than a rupee against the US dollar, climbing to 94.25 per dollar, up 36 paise from the previous close. The bounce followed four days of declines that saw the rupee hit a lifetime low of 95.28....
Over 40 India-Bound Vessels Stuck Amid Hormuz Deadlock
Over 40 India‑bound vessels, including 13 Indian‑flagged ships, have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for more than two months because the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to commercial traffic. The cargoes—LPG, LNG, crude oil, and fertilizer—are deemed priority for...
India and Vietnam Target $25 Billion Trade by 2030, Sign 13 Agreements Across Key Sectors
India and Vietnam elevated their relationship to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and signed 13 agreements spanning critical minerals, digital payments, pharmaceuticals, tourism and education. Both sides set a target to boost bilateral trade to $25 billion by 2030. Key deals...
To Tax or Not to Tax Mineral Rights in India? SC to Hear Pleas on May 20
The Indian Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for May 20 to decide whether Parliament can tax mineral rights, after the Centre filed a pending curative petition. A nine‑judge bench in July 2024 had ruled 8‑1 that such taxing power resides with the...
US-Based Iron Mountain Partners with CleanMax to Power India Data Centres with Renewable Energy
Iron Mountain has signed a long‑term agreement with CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions to supply renewable power to its Indian data‑centre portfolio. The hybrid solar‑and‑wind project will generate roughly 32 million kWh of clean electricity each year for facilities in Mumbai, Pune and...
Wind Energy Producer EDPR's Recurring Profit Rises 9%, Beats Expectations
EDP Renewables posted a 9% rise in first‑quarter recurring net profit to €71 million (about $83 million), beating LSEG forecasts of €52.5 million. Revenue, excluding FX, held steady at €591 million ($692 million) while power generation climbed 3% to 11,300 GWh, with North America delivering 59%...
Thunderstorm Damages Rooftop Plants, Raises Solar Panel Quality Concerns
A severe thunderstorm in Rajasthan damaged roughly 200 rooftop solar installations, exposing cracked panels, broken frames and displaced modules. Industry insiders say most of these systems are uninsured, leaving owners to absorb losses that can run into thousands of dollars....
India’s Grid Bottleneck Forces ReNew to Scale Back Power Generation, Limit Losses
ReNew Energy Global Plc is being forced to curtail up to 15% of its solar output on peak days as India’s transmission network struggles to absorb excess daytime generation. The bottleneck follows earlier incidents where nearly 40% of solar power...
India's Cows Offer Biogas Alternative to Mideast Energy Crunch
India’s reliance on imported liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been strained by supply disruptions linked to the Iran war, leading to long queues for cylinders in rural Uttar Pradesh. Villagers such as Gauri Devi are turning to biogas plants that...
SPML Infra Bags ₹1,128 Crore BESS Project From NTPC
SPML Infra Ltd won a ₹1,128 crore (≈ $136 million) contract from NTPC to build a 1 GWh battery energy storage system at the Barauni Thermal Power Station in Bihar. The 250 MW/1,000 MWh project, featuring 5 MWh DC containers, will be delivered over 18 months with a...
Beyond Electrification: India’s EV Push Hinges on Power Storage, Critical Minerals, and Grid Readiness
At the Maharashtra Business Summit 2026, Indian policymakers and industry leaders warned that the country’s electric‑vehicle ambition hinges on three pillars: secure critical minerals, large‑scale energy storage, and a grid capable of handling renewable intermittency. The government unveiled a ₹34,000 crore...
Indo-Pacific Trade Pact Losing Relevance Under Trump’s Aggressive Strategy: GTRI
The Indo‑Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), a 14‑member grouping representing 40% of global GDP, is losing relevance under President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade strategy, according to think tank GTRI. While the pact’s four pillars cover trade, supply‑chain resilience, clean...
Oil Prices Jump on Hormuz Tensions as US Indices Retreat From Records
Oil prices jumped over 5% after a drone strike ignited a fire at a UAE energy installation in Fujairah, raising concerns about the US‑Iran cease‑fire. The U.S. Navy deployed destroyers through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a new...
Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd Opens Power Lab in Chandaka
Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (OPTCL) inaugurated a state‑of‑the‑art power system simulation laboratory at its Chandaka training centre. The lab, opened by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, equips engineers with real‑time modeling, load‑flow analysis and fault‑simulation tools. It aims...
Storms Leaves Ludhiana Power Grid with ₹2-Crore Infrastructure Bill.
Severe storms in Punjab have inflicted over ₹2 crore (approximately $240,000) in damage on the Ludhiana power grid, toppling a 220 kV high‑voltage tower, 71 transformers and 200 poles. The Lalton sub‑station, which supplies Pakhowal Road, Dehlon and Gill, was hit hardest,...
Calcom Vision Forays Into Solar Street Lighting, Targets ₹100 Crore by FY30
Calcom Vision, a Greater Noida LED lighting maker, announced entry into solar‑powered street lighting and aims to generate roughly $12 million (₹100 crore) in revenue by FY30. The new segment is projected to account for up to 20% of the firm’s total...
L&T to Develop Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project in Odisha
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has secured a contract worth between ₹2,500 crore and ₹5,000 crore (approximately $300 million‑$600 million) from the Coal India‑BHEL joint venture to build a coal‑to‑ammonium nitrate plant in Odisha. The turnkey project will include design, engineering, procurement, construction and hand‑over of...
UP Govt Ends Prepaid System for Smart Meters, Shifts All Users to Postpaid Billing
The Uttar Pradesh government announced on May 5 that all 83 lakh prepaid smart electricity meters will be converted to postpaid billing, ending the advance‑payment model that sparked widespread consumer complaints. Under the new scheme, users will receive monthly bills via...
India Fuel Retailers Face Credit Strain as High Oil Prices Persist, Says Fitch
Fitch Ratings warns that Indian fuel retailers could face mounting credit pressure if elevated crude oil prices persist, as delayed pass‑through to pump prices erodes earnings and free cash flow. Large inventory levels and high refining volumes would increase working‑capital...
From Building Capacity to Building a System: Why Flexibility Is the Foundation of India's Energy Future
India added a record 50 GW of renewable capacity in FY 2025‑26, pushing non‑fossil sources above 50 % of installed power. Yet 2.3 TWh of solar – enough for 400,000 homes – was curtailed because coal plants cannot drop below a 55 % load and...
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor Reaches Criticality, Boosts India’s Nuclear Programme, Says SC Chetal
India’s Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has achieved criticality, marking the first fully indigenous sodium‑cooled fast reactor to reach this milestone. The 500 MW unit is over 90% home‑grown, with only large stainless‑steel plates and 1,600 tonnes of sodium imported. The Department...
India to Host 4th India-Africa Forum Summit After a Decade, Focus on Strategic Partnership, Investment and Innovation Across Africa
India will host its fourth India‑Africa Forum Summit in May, the first such gathering in a decade. The event, themed “India‑Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience and Inclusive Transformation (IA SPIRIT),” will feature high‑level ministerial talks, a business track and the...
HSN Classification Muddle Raises Costs for Battery Storage Sector
India’s battery‑energy‑storage sector is hampered by a single Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) code that often classifies systems as power banks, inflating customs duties and delaying projects. Industry players have petitioned the power ministry for distinct HSN codes for cells,...
US 'Suffocating' Iran with Blockade, Says Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new “Economic Fury” program that intensifies the United States’ economic blockade of Iran, aligning it with the Pentagon’s Operation Epic Fury. The initiative, rooted in the March 2024 “max‑pressure” order, aims to cut...
CSTPS Output Falls by 1,320MW as 2 Units Shut Down over Tube Leakage
Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station (CSTPS) in Maharashtra saw output plunge by 1,320 MW after two 500 MW units were taken offline due to tube‑leakage faults. The plant is now generating only 1,600 MW of its 2,920 MW installed capacity, heightening strain on the...
Cabinet to Soon Approve ₹37,500 Crore Incentive Scheme to Promote Coal Gasification Projects
The Union Cabinet is set to approve a ₹37,500 crore (≈ $4.5 billion) incentive scheme to accelerate coal‑gasification projects across India. The program offers up to ₹3,000 crore ($360 million) per project and targets 100 million tonnes of gasification capacity by 2030. By converting domestic coal...
Commercial LPG Price Hike, Supply Crunch Push Restaurants to Brink
Nagpur’s restaurants are confronting a severe cost squeeze after the official price of a 19‑kg commercial LPG cylinder rose to ₹3,248 (≈$39), up from ₹2,059 (≈$25) just weeks earlier. The hike, combined with an ongoing supply crunch and black‑market rates...