NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Houston, TX, April 10, 2026: Billionaire industrialist Anil Agarwal is exploring a potential expansion of his oil and gas business into Houston as part of a broader plan to spend up to $5 billion on equipment and services from U.S. companies, according to recent reports.
Agarwal’s Vedanta Group, through its oil subsidiary Cairn Oil & Gas, is in discussions with American oilfield service providers to procure drilling rigs, technology, and technical expertise. The company is also considering setting up a small office in Houston, widely regarded as the global hub of the energy industry.
The proposed spending is not aimed at investing in U.S. oil production, but rather at sourcing advanced equipment and forming partnerships that can be deployed in India. Agarwal has described the initiative as a “shopping list” approach to tap into U.S. capabilities in drilling and energy services.
The move comes as India seeks to reduce its heavy dependence on crude oil imports, which currently account for nearly 90 percent of its consumption. By leveraging U.S. technology and expertise, Cairn aims to significantly scale up domestic production.
Cairn Oil & Gas has set an ambitious target of increasing output from about 100,000 barrels per day to 500,000 barrels per day in the coming years. The company is particularly interested in adapting U.S.-style shale and enhanced oil recovery techniques to Indian conditions.
Agarwal has previously spoken about building a “mini Houston” ecosystem in India, bringing together global expertise, technology, and infrastructure to boost the country’s energy security.
If finalized, the Houston presence would mark a strategic step in strengthening U.S.-India energy ties, while positioning Vedanta to accelerate its upstream operations back home.
Photo credit: Bluerasberry – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikipedia.
