India and Australia must move decisively to build energy supply chains resilient enough to withstand regional shocks, as an energy disruption in one part of the Indo-Pacific can quickly cascade into an economic crisis across the wider region, said Lisa Singh, Chief Executive Officer of the Australia India Institute, University of Melbourne, delivering the Special Remarks at a policy dialogue on “Building an India-Australia Energy Security Corridor for Indo-Pacific Resilience.” The event was organised by CUTS International at the Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur.
The dialogue brought together policymakers, researchers and strategic affairs experts to examine how the two countries can deepen cooperation across energy security, critical minerals, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and resilient supply chains, against the backdrop of an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment. Discussions centred on the strategic case for an India-Australia Energy Security Corridor that can support the clean energy transition while reinforcing Indo-Pacific resilience more broadly. The programme opened with Special Remarks by Singh, followed by a fireside discussion with Bipul Chattopadhyay, Executive Director, CUTS International, moderated by Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International.
In her keynote, Singh argued that the very definition of energy security has evolved. No longer confined to the availability of oil and gas, she said it now begins with access to critical minerals and extends across mining, refining, manufacturing, logistics and trusted supply chains. Geopolitical disruptions, from conflicts in West Asia to supply-chain bottlenecks, she noted, have shown how quickly regional crises can ripple through energy markets and destabilise economies across the Indo-Pacific
Pointing to the complementary strengths of the two countries, Singh observed that Australia holds some of the world's largest reserves of lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements, while India brings one of the world's fastest-growing manufacturing sectors alongside ambitious renewable energy and green hydrogen targets. Critical minerals, she argued, must form the foundation of the proposed corridor, enabling both countries to move beyond a traditional buyer-seller relationship towards long-term industrial partnerships in processing, battery manufacturing and clean energy technologies.
Singh also cautioned against over-reliance on concentrated global supply chains, particularly in mineral processing and battery manufacturing, stressing that resilient, diversified supply chains built on trusted partnerships would be central to both strategic security and the clean energy transition. She identified several practical areas for bilateral cooperation, including joint processing of critical minerals, green hydrogen, battery technologies, skills development, advanced manufacturing and green steel, while underlining the complementary roles that Japan, Singapore and the Quad could play in strengthening Indo-Pacific supply chain resilience through technology, investment, logistics and financing.
“Critical minerals must be at the heart of the India-Australia Energy Security Corridor. They are not only the foundation of the clean energy transition but also of long-term strategic resilience across the Indo-Pacific,” Singh said.
Opening the discussion, Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International, highlighted India's accelerating transition towards renewable and nuclear energy, noting that reforms to India's nuclear liability framework have opened new avenues for international collaboration. He pointed to Australia's growing role as a reliable supplier of uranium, underscoring the expanding strategic dimension of bilateral energy cooperation.
During the fireside discussion, Bipul Chattopadhyay, Executive Director, CUTS International, noted that India's energy partnerships are becoming increasingly diversified as the country deepens cooperation with partners across the Indo-Pacific. He emphasised the importance of collaborative research, technology partnerships and institutional cooperation in developing critical mineral processing capabilities and reducing dependence on concentrated global supply chains.
"India is no longer looking only to the West for its energy security; it is strengthening partnerships in the East, with Australia emerging as a key strategic energy partner," Chattopadhyay said.
Responding to questions from participants, Singh acknowledged that while significant progress has been made through initiatives such as the Australia–India Renewable Energy Partnership and joint skills programmes, the next phase must focus on implementation. Expanding collaborative research, investment and workforce development, she said, would be essential to building alternative and trusted supply chains capable of sustaining both countries' long-term energy ambitions.
Across the discussions, participants agreed that energy security can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of production, and increasingly encompasses critical minerals, manufacturing capabilities, logistics, technology partnerships and resilient supply chains. Speakers noted that India and Australia are well placed to build a strategic energy partnership that advances their respective clean energy transitions while contributing to a more secure, resilient and economically integrated Indo-Pacific.
The dialogue reaffirmed CUTS International's continued commitment to fostering policy conversations on emerging strategic challenges at the intersection of geopolitics, geoeconomics and sustainable development. By convening policymakers, researchers and practitioners, the initiative seeks to advance practical cooperation that strengthens regional resilience and supports a secure, sustainable Indo-Pacific.
For more information, please contact:
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Anjali Shekhawat, asw@cuts.org