Panjim: Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, signalled a major strategic shift in Ottawa’s trade policy Tuesday, describing India as a "critical" partner for Canada’s ambition to become a global energy superpower.

Speaking from India Energy Week in Goa, Hodgson emphasised the necessity of deepening ties with New Delhi as India’s energy appetite is projected to outpace the combined growth of China and Southeast Asia over the next decade.

"If Canada wants to be an energy superpower, we need to be trading our energy and natural resources with one of the world's largest energy markets: India," Hodgson stated in a post on X.

The visit marks several diplomatic milestones, including the first time a Canadian federal minister has attended the premier energy forum and the first formal energy dialogue between the two nations in eight years. The move aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s broader mandate to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports to reduce economic reliance on the American market.

Hodgson noted that Canada is preparing to export a wide array of resources to India, ranging from liquefied natural gas (LNG) and uranium to critical minerals and clean energy technology. He highlighted the development of floating storage facilities as a key infrastructure opportunity for LNG shipments.

"That's the money line: the liquefied gas going into the floating storage tanks," Hodgson said, noting that such partnerships would support India’s transition to lower-carbon fuels.

At the same forum, India’s Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, underscored India’s central role in the global energy transition. Puri noted that while India is the world’s third-largest energy consumer, its per capita consumption remains significantly lower than the global average, at roughly 40%.

"India’s share of global energy demand is projected to rise by nearly 30-35%, reaching around 10 per cent of the total global energy demand" by 2050, Puri said. He added that the Indian government is focused on expanding its "full energy mix" through capacity building and improved market conditions.

Hodgson is scheduled to travel to New Delhi following the Goa summit to continue discussions with Indian government officials and industry leaders.

With inputs from ANI