How India’s Oil Giants Are Preparing for Energy Shocks in 2026 | Govindraj Ethiraj x Vikas Kaushal, Chairman & Managing Director of HPCL | India Energy Week 2026 | The Core Report

India Energy Outlook 2026 looks at how India’s oil giants and oil CEOs are preparing for energy shocks amid global uncertainty. In this India Energy Week 2026 special episode of The Core Report, Financial Journalist Govindraj Ethiraj is in conversation with Vikas Kaushal, Chairman & Managing Director of HPCL, on the future of India’s oil, gas, and energy sector.As India targets high economic growth, energy demand continues to rise across oil, gas, power, renewables, aviation fuel, LPG, and petrochemicals. This episode explains where India stands today on crude oil imports, refining capacity, fuel consumption, and distribution — and why oil and gas remain central to India’s energy security even as renewables scale rapidly.Kaushal shares how Indian oil companies are preparing for 2026 by diversifying crude sourcing, expanding refining capacity, strengthening cost structures, and building resilience against geopolitical disruptions. The discussion also examines why oil prices remained relatively stable through 2025 despite global tensions, how companies plan for supply risks such as the Strait of Hormuz, and what greater agility in trading and operations means for the sector.Beyond production and imports, the conversation explores how India’s energy transition is reshaping consumer-facing businesses. From EV charging and cleaner fuel stations to automation, digital monitoring, service quality, and customer experience, energy companies are evolving to meet changing expectations.The episode also covers petrochemicals, capital deployment, industry collaboration, and insights from India Energy Week, highlighting why India’s energy story in 2026 is not about choosing between oil and renewables, but about managing scale, resilience, and long-term growth.This conversation offers clear insights for professionals tracking India’s economy, oil and gas strategy, energy transition, manufacturing, policy, and global energy trends.Subscribe to The Core Report for in-depth conversations on India’s economy, business, energy, and global affairs.Register for India Energy Week 2026: https://www.indiaenergyweek.com/forms/register-as-a-delegate