New Delhi, July 10 -- The Centre has chosen Kolkata to host the fifth edition of India Energy Week (IEW) from January 28 to 31, 2027, marking the flagship energy summit's debut in West Bengal after the Suvendu Adhikari-led government assumed office.
The decision underscores the state's strategic importance as India's eastern energy gateway, anchored by the Haldia Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, major ports and connectivity to the Northeast as well as Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.The flagship annual event of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas will be held in West Bengal for the first time after four successive editions in Bengaluru and Goa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the four-day summit, which will be hosted across the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, WBTPO and Eco Park.
Beyond its strategic location, West Bengal is emerging as an important player in both conventional and clean energy value chains. The state government is focusing on offshore wind research in the Bay of Bengal, green hydrogen prospects near Haldia, renewable energy integration, biofuels and clean industrial energy. The summit is expected to enhance the state's visibility among global investors and energy companies.
Bengal is also home to several energy-intensive industries, including steel, cement, chemicals, petrochemicals, engineering and tea processing. With New Delhi sharpening its focus on energy security and eastern connectivity under the Act East Policy, the state's role in India's energy sector is expected to grow further.
Launched in February 2023 as part of India's G20 presidency, India Energy Week has emerged as the country's premier global energy platform, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, financiers, technology providers and researchers. A key feature is the CEO Roundtable, where global energy chiefs engage with Indian public sector undertakings and private sector leaders.
The summit comes at a critical juncture for the global energy sector, with discussions expected to centre on energy security, sustainability and the clean energy transition amid geopolitical tensions, investment uncertainties and pressing decarbonisation goals. Deliberations are also likely to focus on balancing energy security with practical transition pathways while creating stable investment environments to drive innovation and growth.
The 2026 edition featured 11 country pavilions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Russia and China. Ministers and deputy ministers from the UAE, Canada, Oman, the Netherlands and Russia also attended, alongside representatives of international organisations such as the International Energy Forum (IEF) and BIMSTEC.
The conference will feature ministerial sessions, leadership panels and bilateral meetings on global energy priorities and India's expanding role in the sector.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.