Bangladesh Schools to Go Online in Energy Crunch
Bangladesh will pilot a hybrid schooling model next week, alternating physical and virtual classes to curb electricity use amid an energy crunch caused by restricted Middle East oil and gas supplies. The schedule assigns in‑person lessons to Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, and online sessions to Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday for schools that have the necessary digital capacity and draw many car‑commuting students. The government also made electric school buses tax‑free and imposed broader fuel‑saving measures for civil servants. The World Bank warns the conflict could worsen inflation and fiscal pressure in Bangladesh.
Iran War Doubles Russia's Main Oil Revenue to $9 Billion in April
Russia’s mineral extraction tax on oil is set to double in April, reaching roughly $9 billion, after the Iran‑related crisis drove Brent futures above $100 per barrel. The surge stems from the Strait of Hormuz closure following US and Israeli airstrikes,...
GAIL India to Borrow ₹5,000-6,000 Crore in Financial Year 2027
GAIL (India) announced it will raise between ₹5,000 crore and ₹6,000 crore (approximately $539‑$647 million) in fiscal 2027 to fund expansion projects, chiefly to boost utilization at its Dabhol LNG import terminal. The company has also secured three spot LNG cargoes to offset...
Non-Installation of Vapour Recovery System: NGT Dismisses BPCL's Appeal Against ₹1 Crore Fine
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) rejected Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's (BPCL) appeal and upheld a ₹1 crore fine—approximately $120,000—for failing to install a vapour recovery system (VRS) at its storage terminals. The fine stems from a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)...
Maharashtra Clears MSEDCL IPO, Approves Borrowing of over ₹32,679 Crore
Maharashtra’s cabinet approved a sweeping overhaul of its power distributor, MSEDCL, by assuming roughly ₹32,679 crore (about US$3.9 billion) of debt and converting it into 15‑year government bonds. The restructuring will split MSEDCL into a commercial‑consumer arm and a new agricultural‑focused entity,...
RBI Ups Crude Oil, Exchange Rate Baseline Assumptions for FY27
The Reserve Bank of India raised its FY27 baseline crude‑oil price to $85 per barrel, up from $70 in the second half of FY26, and lifted its rupee projection to 94 per dollar, up from 88. The revision follows a...
India's Fast Breeder Reactor Goes Critical- Why It Matters
India’s first Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam reached criticality on April 6, 2026, marking the activation of the second stage of its three‑stage nuclear programme. The 500 MW sodium‑cooled unit is designed to generate more fissile material than it...
Iran Forms Human Chains to Protect Power Plants as Trump's Strike Deadline Looms
Iranian citizens in Ilam formed a human chain to protest President Donald Trump’s threats of airstrikes on the country’s bridges and power plants. Deputy Sports Minister Alireza Rahimi called on athletes, artists and students to create similar chains around critical...
Coal Demand at Power Plants Seen Rising 11.5%
India’s coal‑based power sector expects an 11.5% jump in coal consumption to 233 million tonnes in the April‑June quarter, driven by a 13.3% rise in electricity generation to 341 billion units. Full‑year demand is projected at 906 million tonnes, up from 826 million tonnes...
Stoves to Cars: India Expands Ethanol Use Amid West Asia War
India faces a roughly 20 billion‑litre ethanol surplus, prompting officials to seek new demand channels beyond the E20 petrol blend. Pilot projects are testing ethanol‑powered cooking stoves, diesel blends for generators, and flex‑fuel buses in Karnataka. Automakers such as Maruti Suzuki,...
Punjab Achieves Major Strides in Power Sector with Free Electricity and Infrastructure Upgrades
Punjab announced a sweeping electricity reform that gives 600 units of free power to roughly 90 % of households, effectively eliminating most residential bills. The state also acquired the Goindwal Sahib Thermal Plant, lifting its operational efficiency to 82 % and strengthening generation...
India's Metal & Mining Sector Set for Earnings Recovery Despite Geopolitical Headwinds: Report
India’s metal and mining sector is poised for a near‑term earnings rebound, driven by stronger domestic steel demand and rising commodity prices. A sharp recovery in steel prices since December 2025 is expected to lift ferrous margins in Q4 FY26, while...
India's Piped Gas Expansion: 8 Lakh New Consumers Amidst LPG Cylinder Drive
India added roughly 800,000 new piped‑gas consumers in the past month, with half of those connections already active and the remainder in progress. The government reported surrendering 16,000 LPG cylinders to prevent duplicate supply, while maintaining delivery of five million...
Karnataka LPG Shortage: Mandya Auto Drivers Hit as Fuel Bunkers Run Dry
Auto drivers in Mandya are facing a crippling LPG shortage as local fuel bunkers remain closed, leaving them unable to refuel and earn daily fares. The scarcity, tied to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, has forced many drivers to...
OPEC+ Debates Theoretical Oil Output Hike Amid Iran War Paralysis
OPEC+ is expected to approve a modest output increase for May, but the rise will be largely academic because key producers cannot lift production amid the US‑Israeli war with Iran that has shut the Strait of Hormuz. The closure and...
Himachal: Naina Devi Temple Trust Starts Producing Biogas From Leftover Food
The Naina Devi Temple Trust in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, has launched a biogas plant that converts organic waste from its community kitchen into fuel. The pre‑fabricated system processes about 200 kg of food waste each day, generating roughly 20 kg of biogas,...
NUPPL Ghatampur Thermal Power Project Unit 3 Connects to Grid, Boosting Uttar Pradesh Power Capacity
Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Limited (NUPPL) linked the third 660 MW unit of its Ghatampur thermal power project to the 765 kV national grid on April 3, 2026, marking the final step toward full commercial operation. The plant’s total capacity of 1,980 MW now...
Govt Says No Diversion of Iranian Crude Cargo to China, Supplies Fully Secured
India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas refuted claims that an Iranian crude cargo destined for Vadinar was rerouted to China, labeling the reports factually incorrect. The ministry emphasized that Indian refiners continue to source crude from more than 40...
Auto LPG Supply Improves, but Commuters Face Longer Waits and Higher Fares
India’s major cities have lifted the 10‑litre cap on auto‑rickshaw LPG refuelling after supply improved, yet commuters are confronting longer queues and higher fares. Drivers now demand 50‑60% occupancy to break even, earning roughly ₹96 (≈$1.15) per trip while spending...
LPG Pilferage Racket Busted in Sambhajinagar; ₹1.26 Crore Seized
Maharashtra’s Sambhajinagar district police busted an alleged LPG pilferage racket, seizing about 35,220 kg of gas—enough for roughly 2,480 households—and equipment worth ₹1.26 crore (≈$152,000). The raid, conducted by a state‑level flying squad, recovered two tanker capsules, 17 filled cylinders and specialised...
Delhi Tightens LPG Supply Norms, Links Commercial Access to PNG Transition
Delhi’s Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department issued an order on April 2 that ties commercial LPG cylinder eligibility to a piped natural gas (PNG) connection—or a formal application for one—where network infrastructure exists. Businesses must register with an oil marketing...
Israel, Iran War: Torrent Gas Raises CNG Price by ₹2.50/kg; Locals Flag Rising Cost Burden
Torrent Gas increased compressed natural gas (CNG) prices by ₹2.50 per kilogram (about $0.03) in a major Indian city. The hike comes as commercial LPG cylinder rates rose to ₹2,078.50 (~$25) after a ₹195.50 (~$2.4) increase, and aviation turbine fuel...
Karnataka: Pralhad Joshi Fears Taxes on EVs Will Derail India's Emission Targets
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi warned that Karnataka’s decision to scrap road‑tax exemptions for electric vehicles could boost India’s crude oil imports and jeopardize its emission goals. The state’s new tax regime imposes a lifetime levy of 5% to 10% on...
Vikran Engineering Wins ₹530 Crore Power Distribution Projects in Maharashtra
Vikran Engineering Ltd secured two power‑distribution contracts from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd worth roughly ₹531 crore (about $65 million). The deals cover new substations, 33 kV, 22 kV and 11 kV line construction, transformer upgrades and full turnkey execution across the Nashik and...
Bangladesh Farmers Test Solar Irrigation as Fuel Costs Bite
Bangladesh is promoting solar‑powered irrigation pumps to replace diesel generators, aiming to lower farm operating costs and generate surplus electricity for the grid. A recent survey shows only 4,058 solar units nationwide, far short of the climate plan target of...
Code & Chips to Curtail Carbon: Leveraging AI to Promote Green Electrons
AI is projected to reduce global CO₂ emissions by 5‑10% versus business‑as‑usual, with a potential 2.4 GtCO₂e cut by 2035 from power and mobility sectors alone. Real‑time AI analytics could boost renewable output up to 20%, delivering an additional 1.8 GtCO₂e reduction....
Case Against 7 From Indore for 'Cheating' BPCL by Not Returning Wrongful Recharge
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) discovered that its Smart Fleet digital wallets were erroneously recharged with a total of ₹129.55 crore (≈ $15.6 million) affecting over 1,000 customers. Seven Indore‑based users allegedly retained ₹5.7 crore (≈ $0.69 million) despite BPCL’s repeated requests for repayment. Police filed...
NASA Is Developing a New Nuclear Battery that Could Run for Four Centuries or Five Human Lifetimes
NASA is evaluating americium‑241 as fuel for next‑generation radioisotope power systems, offering a half‑life of roughly 433 years—about five times longer than the current plutonium‑238 sources. The isotope’s slow decay would enable nuclear batteries to operate for centuries, supporting deep‑space...
Solar Power Generation Touches Record High, Offsets Soaring Demand During Summer
Tamil Nadu’s grid recorded a historic solar output of 7,693 MW on Wednesday, while peak demand hovered around 20,000 MW. The state’s power distributor absorbed 56.9 million units of solar energy, representing roughly one‑eighth of total consumption. Over the past year, about 2,800 MW of...
Power Consumption Grows Marginally by 1.8% to 149.56 Billion Units in March
India’s electricity consumption in March 2026 rose modestly by 1.8% to 149.56 billion units, driven by unseasonal rains that kept temperatures low. Peak power demand reached 238.37 GW, a slight increase from February’s 235.22 GW. The all‑time high of 250 GW recorded in May...
DEE Development Engineers Receives 49% Tariff Hike for Punjab Biomass Plant
DEE Development Engineers Ltd received a revised tariff of ₹5.224 per kWh (≈$0.06) for its 6 MW Malwa biomass plant in Punjab, a 49% increase effective for ten years. The higher rate is expected to lift FY26 profit before tax by...
Indraprastha Gas Ltd Names BPCL’s Subhankar Sen as Chairman From April 1
Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) announced that Subhankar Sen, currently BPCL’s Director of Marketing, will become chairman on April 1, 2026, replacing Raj Kumar Dubey. The move follows IGL’s articles of association, which rotate the chairmanship between promoter BPCL and GAIL every two years. Sen brings...
China's Cosmx Ties up with Munoth Industries in JV to Source Lithium-Ion Cells in India
China's Cosmx, the world’s second‑largest smartphone battery‑pack supplier, has formed a joint venture with Chennai‑based Munoth Industries to source lithium‑ion cells in India. Cosmx will acquire a 26% stake in Munoth’s newly approved cell‑manufacturing facility and begin sourcing cells for...
Numaligarh Refinery Logs Record Throughput in FY26; Operates Above Capacity for Second Year
India’s Numaligarh Refinery logged a record 3.113 million metric tonnes of crude processed in FY26, operating at 103% of its 3 MMTPA rated capacity for the second year running. The refinery’s LPG output jumped 22% in March, while motor‑spirit production also hit...
NTPC’s Simhadri Plant Clocks 100% Ash Use for 9th Year
NTPC’s 2,000 MW Simhadri super‑thermal plant in Andhra Pradesh has achieved more than 100 percent ash utilization for the ninth consecutive year, underscoring its resource‑efficiency drive. In FY 2025‑26 the plant generated 11,136 million units of electricity with a 64.27 % plant load factor, while...
Inox Clean Energy Completes Acquisition of Vibrant Energy
Inox Clean Energy has completed the acquisition of Vibrant Energy for an enterprise value of roughly ₹5,000 crore (about $600 million), adding a 1,337 MW renewable portfolio spanning five Indian states. The deal closed in a record four months despite a volatile global...
UT Subsidy Worth ₹3.80 Cr Disbursed to 4,288 Beneficiaries Under PM Surya Ghar Yojana: CM
Jammu’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that a Union Territory subsidy of ₹3.80 crore (approximately $458,000) has been disbursed to 4,288 residential consumers under the PM Surya Ghar‑Muft Bijli Yojana. The payout includes ₹1.80 crore for 2,053 Kashmir Power Distribution Company customers and ₹2 crore for 2,235...
India's First Iranian Oil Cargo Since 2019 Headed to Gujarat Coast
India is set to receive its first Iranian crude cargo since 2019, with the Aframax tanker Ping Shun carrying about 600,000 barrels to Vadinar, Gujarat. The shipment follows a U.S. 30‑day waiver allowing Iranian oil sales on the water amid the...
Advait Energy Bags Four PGVCL Orders Worth ₹191 Crore Under RDSS Scheme
Advait Energy Transitions Ltd secured four medium‑voltage covered conductor (MVCC) contracts from Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd (PGVCL) worth roughly ₹191.25 crore (about $23.3 million). The orders span Morbi, Bhavnagar, Amreli and Surendranagar districts and cover supply, installation, testing and commissioning. All...
Iran's Parliament Security Committee Approves Plan to Impose Tolls on Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Parliament Security Committee approved a Strait of Hormuz Management Plan that introduces a rial‑based toll system for vessels transiting the vital waterway. The plan explicitly bans American and Israeli ships and targets nations imposing unilateral sanctions on Tehran. It...
Power Discount Window Extended by 2 Hours for Industry
Gujarat has extended its industrial daytime power discount window from 3 pm to 5 pm, allowing factories to tap cheaper solar‑generated electricity for two extra hours. The concession, previously limited to smart‑meter users, now applies to all smart‑metered industrial consumers, removing the...
India Boosts Renewable Push Amid Gas Supply Disruptions, Minister Says
India’s junior power minister announced an accelerated approval process for wind‑power and battery‑storage projects as the war in the Middle East creates a natural‑gas shortfall. Although gas contributes only about 2% of generation, it supplies roughly 8 GW during peak demand,...
Gujarat Boosts Biogas Production, 193 Plants Operational, Aiming for 60 More
Gujarat has operationalised more than 193 institutional biogas plants over the past five years, collectively producing 13,995 m³ of biogas each day. The Gujarat Energy Development Agency subsidises these projects, and the state budgeted a ₹12 crore (approximately $1.45 million) allocation for 2026‑27....
ONGC Begins Gas Monetisation From $1 Bn Daman Project; Supplies Start to Hazira
State‑run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGG) has begun monetising gas from Platform B‑12‑24P of its $1 billion Daman Upside Development Project (DUDP) in the Arabian Sea. The platform is now feeding gas to the Hazira processing plant, marking the first commercial...
Coal India Arm CMPDI Lists at 7% Discount to IPO Price
Central Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDI), Coal India’s consulting arm, listed on the BSE and NSE on March 30 at a 7 percent discount to its ₹172 ($2.07) issue price, opening at ₹160 ($1.93) and ₹162.80 ($1.96). The three‑day offer‑for‑sale was...
Jharkhand's GOBARdhan Scheme: Boosting Rural Income, Cleanliness, and Biogas Production
Jharkhand’s GOBARdhan scheme, part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0, has installed 44 biogas plants across 24 districts, directly benefiting 745 rural families. The plants convert cattle dung into cooking gas and organic manure, cutting reliance on firewood and...
LPG Stock with Oil Cos Dipping in Vidarbha Cities
LPG inventories across Vidarbha’s PSU oil firms have plunged, with HPCL and BPCL holding less than a day’s worth of cylinders and IOCL slightly better at 1.4 days plus three days of inbound supply. Panic buying has kept demand robust,...
Arunachal Opens Biogas Plant to Switch From LPG
Arunachal Pradesh inaugurated a 30‑cubic‑metre biogas plant at the Central Cattle Breeding Farm in Nirjuli, converting daily cow‑dung output into clean cooking fuel. The two‑unit system processes 5‑6 quintals of manure each day, supplying biogas to the farm’s residential quarters and...
PM Modi Highlights Success of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana; Solar Panels Transform Lives, Economy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the rapid expansion of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a scheme launched in February 2024 that subsidises up to 40 percent of rooftop solar installations for 1 crore households. He cited success stories from Gujarat,...
Andhra Min Asks Officials to Speed up ''PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana'', RDSS Works
Andhra Pradesh Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar has ordered a fast‑track rollout of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). The Surya Ghar scheme promises up to 300 kWh of free solar electricity per month for one crore households, with a special...