India Eyes Global Clean Energy Manufacturing Leadership: Kumaraswamy

Kumaraswamy said changing geopolitical conditions, supply chain disruptions and increasing competition for critical minerals have reshaped global priorities.

India is working to strengthen its position as a global manufacturing hub for clean energy technologies, with Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy saying the country's energy security now depends as much on industrial capability as it does on access to energy resources.

Speaking at the 7th CII International Energy Conference and Exhibition in New Delhi, the Minister said manufacturing, innovation and resilient supply chains have become central to national growth as global demand for clean energy technologies continues to rise.

Manufacturing at the Centre of Energy Security

Kumaraswamy said changing geopolitical conditions, supply chain disruptions and increasing competition for critical minerals have reshaped global priorities. He noted that India is responding through the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative by expanding domestic manufacturing while remaining connected to trusted international value chains.

He said the country should move beyond being a major consumer of clean energy products and become a leading producer of equipment, materials and technologies that support the global energy transition. According to the Minister, building strong industrial ecosystems across steel, heavy engineering, batteries, transformers, power equipment and electric mobility will play a key role in achieving that goal.

Green Steel and Industrial Growth

Describing steel as the backbone of clean energy infrastructure, Kumaraswamy said every major renewable energy project, including solar parks, wind farms, transmission networks and green hydrogen facilities, depends heavily on steel.

He reiterated India's target of reaching 300 million tonnes of steelmaking capacity by 2030 while stressing that future growth must be environmentally responsible. The Government is encouraging greater use of renewable energy, energy-efficient technologies and low-carbon production methods to make Indian steel more competitive in global markets.

Battery Manufacturing and Critical Minerals

The Minister said India's clean energy ambitions also require stronger domestic production of advanced batteries, heavy electrical equipment, construction machinery and energy storage systems. He highlighted the ₹10,900 crore PM E-DRIVE Scheme, which supports electric mobility while strengthening local manufacturing and supply chains.

He also pointed to the ₹18,100 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell Batteries, aimed at creating 50 GWh of domestic battery manufacturing capacity. In addition, the Government has launched a ₹7,280 crore scheme to promote the manufacturing of sintered rare earth permanent magnets, reducing import dependence for industries such as automotive, defence, renewable energy and aerospace.

Kumaraswamy called for closer collaboration between the Government, industry, research institutions and academia, saying resilient supply chains can only be built through joint efforts. He urged businesses to participate in India's industrial transformation and contribute to the country's vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.