BRICS Summit 2026: Energy Leaders Call for Concrete Steps on Energy Security, Circular Economy, and Regional Supply Chains

As India hosts the pivotal BRICS Summit, energy security and economic resilience have surged to the top of the agenda. With BRICS now representing nearly half the world’s population and 40% of global GDP (PPP), the spotlight is on whether the bloc can turn its collective heft into real progress on clean energy and supply chain security. For decades, energy security meant stockpiling oil, gas, or coal. But the clean-energy transition has shifted vulnerabilities across the value chain, exposing new risks in critical minerals and advanced technologies.

With global markets in flux and demand for key minerals increasing, Indian business and energy sector leaders view the BRICS Summit as a timely platform to transform discussions into meaningful progress and shared achievements.

Debmalya Sen, President, India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), said, “With India leading and major energy players like Russia, Iran, and the UAE at the table, the Summit’s agenda promises a shift from dialogue to decisive action. Key advances, like the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and new principles for energy storage, set the stage for accelerated projects, harmonised standards, and stronger critical mineral supply chains. For India’s energy storage sector, this is a strategic inflection point to drive technical cooperation, innovation, and global leadership in clean technology.”

Today, the global battery market has grown by over 35% in a single year, and just one refining nation now controls 72% of the world’s processed supply of key energy minerals. This shifting landscape is enabling BRICS to rethink its approach.

Dr. Avishek Kumar, Founder & Director, Sunkonnect, said, “Today, the largest refining country controls 72% of refined supply for key energy minerals, and global battery demand has surged past 1.5 TWh, exposing new vulnerabilities. The goal should not be self-sufficiency, but to diversify strategic dependencies by mapping supply chains for minerals like lithium, graphite, and rare earths, and distributing manufacturing, processing, and recycling across our economies. We must also cut the cost of capital, unlock more than the $30 billion targeted by the New Development Bank, and prioritise local-currency lending.”

Scaling up clean energy ambitions is not just about resources, it’s about translating strategy into scalable, real-world solutions.

Kumar M, Founder & CEO, Smart Grid Analytics, said, “The launch of the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage is a step forward, but the focus must now be on translating such initiatives into robust, scalable solutions. With global climate finance needs targeting USD 1.3 trillion by 2035, BRICS must drive mechanisms that lower the cost of capital for clean energy and infrastructure. Streamlining access to concessional finance, accelerating technology co-development, and building resilient supply chains should be at the heart of the Delhi Summit’s agenda.”

Resource-rich economies can no longer afford to simply export raw materials while value-added processing and manufacturing remain concentrated elsewhere. Instead, the focus is shifting to maximising value at every stage and embedding sustainability into every link of the chain.

Akhilesh Bagaria, Co-Founder, NavPrakriti, said, “With demand for minerals like lithium and rare earths accelerating, battery demand alone has jumped over 35% in a year; our challenge is not just to secure resources, but to maximise their value at every stage. The focus must now shift to building capacities for recycling, reprocessing, and innovation within BRICS, reducing waste and extending the lifecycle of critical materials. By investing in closed-loop supply chains and supporting policies that foster collaboration across member nations, BRICS can minimise vulnerabilities and set new standards for sustainable energy systems. ”

Electric mobility is another front where BRICS can set a global example. With member countries seeing rapid uptake of EVs across both consumer and commercial markets, integrating renewable energy, critical minerals, and digital infrastructure is vital for a robust, future-ready ecosystem.

Sandeep Mukherjee, CEO, BLive, said, “As BRICS nations accelerate the shift to clean transport, it’s essential to address not just the deployment of electric vehicles, but also the entire ecosystem. The Rio de Janeiro Declaration’s focus on benefit sharing and value addition is a timely reminder that BRICS must lead on localising battery manufacturing and recycling, ensuring these opportunities translate into jobs and economic growth. I’m optimistic that this year’s agenda will drive collaboration on grid modernisation, digital innovation, and affordable climate finance, creating a foundation for sustainable mobility and energy resilience that meets the unique needs of our diverse markets.”

As the Delhi Summit unfolds, the call from industry and energy leaders, BRICS must use its collective power to drive real, measurable progress on diversification, circularity, and energy resilience, moving beyond strategies and statements to practical solutions that will define the next chapter for global growth.