EXCLUSIVE: Canada's Energy Minister says Ottawa's success will go through India

In an exclusive interview, Canada's Energy Minister Tim Hodgson signals a new era in India-Canada relations, highlighting energy diversification, renewable cooperation, uranium supply, and trade growth, while underscoring India's central role in Canada's strategic economic future.

As the world grapples with rising energy demand, geopolitical tensions, and the weaponization of trade, Canada is setting its sights firmly on India. In an exclusive interview with India Today Global's Executive Editor Geeta Mohan, Canada’s Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, laid bare a vision of deepening bilateral ties, diversifying energy supply, and challenging coercive economic practices. With India projected to drive one-third of global energy growth this decade, Hodgson made it clear: Canada sees not just an opportunity, but a strategic imperative, to partner with India in shaping a secure, resilient, and mutually beneficial energy future.

Q: Minister Hodgson, thank you for joining us. You were here for Indian Energy Week. What opportunities do you see for India and Canada in terms of energy security and diversification?

Tim Hodgson: First of all, it’s incredible to be back in India, I haven’t been here since 2005. In many ways, our two countries are a perfect match. Canada is a clean and conventional energy superpower, blessed with immense resources, while India is a vibrant economy, projected to be the world’s third-largest by the end of the decade.

At Indian Energy Week, it was clear that growth in global energy demand will be largely driven by India, which accounts for about a third of total growth in the coming years. For Canada, this represents a tremendous opportunity. We have critical minerals, natural gas, LNG, LPG, and conventional oil, as well as expertise in uranium and potash. At the same time, Indian companies are doing remarkable work in renewables, delivering base-load renewable energy at highly competitive prices. There’s a lot both countries can learn from each other.

Q: Speaking of diversification, how will costs factor into India sourcing energy from Canada? How can we ensure energy remains affordable for consumers?

Tim Hodgson: India has significantly diversified its oil and gas sources, from 20 countries to 40 in recent years. Currently, less than 1% of India’s oil comes from Canada, though we produce around 5-6% of the world’s oil. There’s a huge opportunity to diversify your supplier base while broadening ours as well.