IndianOil and British Columbia Explore Strategic Energy Tie-ups

NEW DELHI – In a significant step toward strengthening the India-Canada energy corridor, Mr. A. S. Sahney, Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), held high-level discussions with Hon. David Eby, Premier of British Columbia (B.C.), Canada. The meeting, held in New Delhi on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, focused on building resilient supply chains and accelerating the transition to low-carbon energy.

The visit is part of a broader six-day trade mission led by Premier Eby to major Indian hubs including Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru. The mission aims to diversify B.C.'s trade partnerships and promote the province's vast resources in clean energy and critical minerals.

Key Areas of Cooperation

The discussions covered a wide spectrum of energy segments, reflecting both India’s growing demand and British Columbia’s status as a major global exporter:

• LNG & LPG Supply: Exploration of long-term supply agreements. B.C. is home to several major LNG projects nearing completion, including LNG Canada, which recently began shipments to Asia.
• Green Hydrogen: Collaborating on production technologies and infrastructure to support India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• Critical Minerals: Securing supply chains for minerals like copper, nickel, and rare-earth elements, which are vital for EV battery manufacturing and India’s renewable energy goals.
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Initiatives to develop and scale SAF to decarbonize the aviation sector.

• Upstream Partnerships: Potential joint ventures in exploration and production within Canada's resource-rich basins.

Strategic Alignment

The talks align with India’s goal of reaching Net Zero by 2070 and IndianOil’s own target to achieve operational Net Zero by 2046. Premier Eby emphasized that as India moves toward becoming the world's third-largest economy, B.C. offers a stable, responsible, and clean energy partnership that can help bridge the gap between traditional hydrocarbons and future green solutions.

Following the meeting, Indian Union Petroleum Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri also met with the Premier to further formalize these prospects, noting that the India-Canada hydrocarbon trade already holds "substantial upside potential."