India and Africa: Towards a Sustainable Energy Partnership

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the energy-based relationship between India and Africa. It analyzes India's strategic need to diversify its energy imports away from the Middle East and its efforts to build a sustainable, development-oriented partnership with African nations that moves beyond simple resource extraction to include capacity building and renewable energy cooperation.

• India faces significant energy security challenges due to a low domestic resource base and high dependence on imports. By 2008–09, oil imports reached nearly 2.4 million barrels per day, accounting for 75% of total consumption, with a projection that Middle East dependency could exceed 90% by 2030.
• India's international energy strategy focuses on diversifying supply sources, acquiring overseas assets through state-owned and private companies, and offering downstream cooperation in infrastructure like refineries and pipelines.
• Africa is viewed as a critical alternative to the Middle East for hydrocarbon reserves, containing 9% of global oil reserves, 7.9% of natural gas reserves, 5% of coal reserves, and 38% of uranium reserves.
• India has aggressively pursued energy assets in Africa through ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) and other companies, including a $6 billion infrastructure deal with Nigeria and stakes in Sudan's Greater Nile Oil Project. India currently sources approximately 18% of its oil imports from Africa.
• India aims to distinguish its engagement from other powers by using a 'hybrid model' that combines resource extraction with long-term industrial development, capacity building, and human resource training to avoid the 'resource curse' seen in some African states.
• There is significant potential for India to assist Africa in renewable energy, particularly solar power, as the continent receives an average of 6 kilowatt-hour of solar energy per square metre daily. India can provide low-cost, adapted technology based on its own experience with solar, wind, and biogas.
• Despite its efforts, India faces stiff competition from China, whose investments in Africa are approximately four times the size of India's. India's bilateral trade with Africa grew from $24,986 billion in 2006–07 to $39,542 billion in 2008–09, compared to China's $106.8 billion in 2008.

APA

Dadwal, S. R. (2011). India and Africa: Towards a Sustainable Energy Partnership. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Occasional-Paper-75.pdf

Chicago

Dadwal, Shebonti Ray. India and Africa: Towards a Sustainable Energy Partnership. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2011. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Occasional-Paper-75.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dadwal |first1=Shebonti Ray |title=India and Africa: Towards a Sustainable Energy Partnership |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=February 2011 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Occasional-Paper-75.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dadwal2011india, author = {Dadwal, Shebonti Ray}, title = {{India and Africa: Towards a Sustainable Energy Partnership}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2011}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Occasional-Paper-75.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }