India has announced that it has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to reinforce cooperation in global energy security, stability, and sustainability. This partnership will lead to an extensive exchange of knowledge and would be a stepping stone towards India becoming a complete member of IEA, a power ministry statement expressed.

"The framework for the strategic partnership between the IEA members and the Government of India was signed on 27th January 2021 to reinforce mutual trust and cooperation & enhance global energy security, stability, and sustainability," it said.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Power Secretary Sanjiv Nandan Sahai and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

"The contents of the strategic partnership will be mutually decided by IEA members and India, including a phased increase in benefits and responsibilities for India as an IEA strategic partner, and building on prevailing areas of work within Association and the Clean Energy Transitions Programme, such as Energy Security, Clean & Sustainable Energy, Expansion of gas-based economy in India, etc," it said.

The IEA Secretariat will be in charge of the implementation of the cooperative activities in India and for enabling discussion between the IEA members and India to further develop the strategic partnership.

Through this agreement, the Indian government endeavors to take the necessary steps to boost and promote strategic and technical cooperation in the energy sector in the identified areas, the ministry added.