• CERAWEEK 2025 | March 10-14, 2025
  • CERAWEEK
  • March 10 - 14, 2025

Thomas Hardy

United States Trade and Development Agency

Director (Acting)

Thomas R. Hardy was appointed on July 11, 2017 to lead the US Trade and Development Agency, a US government agency that helps US businesses create jobs through the export of their goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links US companies to global export opportunities by providing early project preparation assistance that matches US technological expertise with overseas infrastructure development needs - creating lasting business partnerships between US companies and emerging market economies. Mr. Hardy also serves as the Agency’s Director of Congressional and Public Relations, leading the agency's outreach to Capitol Hill, the business community and press to amplify the success USTDA achieves through its commercially-oriented foreign assistance program. Earlier in his career, Mr. Hardy served as the Chief of Staff and as a Country Manager in the East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa regions where he brought a trade policy background that led to a more active program in support of creating U.S. jobs through exports. Prior to joining USTDA, Mr. Hardy served as an advisor to Commissioner Thelma J. Askey at the U.S. International Trade Commission and as a staff member of the Committee on Ways and Means in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Sessions With Thomas Hardy

Wednesday, 11 March

  • 11:30am - 12:30pm (CST) / -

    India: Creating a new natural gas economy
    Upstream Oil & Gas

    India is promoting a gas-based economy and increasing the share of natural gas in its energy base from 6.2% to 15% by 2030. Investments are planned for building terminals, pipelines, and city gas infrastructure. The size of the Indian gas market may range from US$150 to US$250 billion over a decade, potentially reaching 70% of India’s population with natural gas infrastructure spreading to 50% of its land. Within midstream, pipelines are being built and funding options are available to incentivize gas pipelines to new areas. How can natural gas be a key tool to achieve India’s challenge of energy security and energy sustainability? What incentives should government provide to gas-based power plants? How can gas-based thermal power plants play a balancing role in infusing 450 GW of renewable capacity by 2030? What carbon cost mechanism should be added to the cost of coal-powered generation? What are global best regulatory and market development practices to grow the gas market?