‘Consumption going up’: US sees India as growth engines for energy exports

India and other Asian economies are emerging as key growth markets for US energy exports, US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said, as the US expands gas production under US president Donald Trump’s renewable energy push.

Speaking at the Manama Dialogue 2025 in Bahrain, Burgum said, “The United States has a remarkable ability to continue increasing gas production.” He added that shale fields across the country continue to develop. “In my state, during the time I was governor, the ratio of gas to oil doubled. Our oil production is relatively stable, but our gas production doubled.”

Burgum cited the example of Alaska’s North Slope, saying it represents untapped potential for US LNG exports. He added: “Alaska has a lot of gas… with the Alaska Pipeline built 50 years ago – a technological marvel – 800 miles long, crossing three mountain ranges. It has gone 50 years without a leak, and this pipeline was built in 28 months. That was when America was able to build great things quickly.”

For every barrel of oil produced from Alaska’s North Slope, gas is being reinjected underground due to export restrictions, he said. “There are known trillions of BCF that have returned to the North Slope,” he noted, adding that it was time to connect that capacity to Pacific markets.

“When we look at the demand for LNG from our allies in the Pacific — Japan, Korea, the Philippines and others that have almost no oil and gas resources — it’s eight days from Anchorage, Alaska, to Tokyo. It’s a safe supply route that we can provide,” Burgum said. “Again, there is an opportunity when we look at markets around the world – Africa, India and China are still seeing a rise in consumption. There are markets everywhere.”

Burgum’s remarks came at a time when India’s crude oil sourcing from the US reached a four-year high. According to Kpler data, India imported 568,000 barrels per day of US crude in October – the highest level since March 2021 – raising America’s share of India’s total crude oil imports to 12%.

“Indian crude mix in October clearly reflects increased diversification and opportunistic buying patterns,” said Sumit Retulia, senior research analyst at Kpler. He attributed the rise in the United States to favorable price differentials and weak Chinese demand.

India’s total crude oil imports rose 3% in October to 4.81 million bpd, led by steady supplies from Russia (1.62 million bpd, 34% share), followed by Iraq (826,000 bpd) and Saudi Arabia (669,000 bpd). Imports from Brazil doubled, while quantities from Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates decreased.