Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Tuesday that India's energy-related infrastructure could offer investment opportunities worth $500 billion to the South Asian nation in its quest to become independent in energy production.

"We're moving from energy security to a?energy independent... Modi said that India's energy infrastructure offers a $500-billion opportunity.

India is building infrastructure to meet the demand for energy, he said. He emphasized that India was looking at affordable options for?refining? and?transport. Modi said that "we are working to manufacture LNG transport vessels in India."

South Asia aims to become the No.1 refinery in the world, he said. He said that India is the world's No. 1 refinery capacity. India is the world's third-largest energy consumer and importer of crude oil.

The goal is to increase the oil exploration area to 1 million square kilometers (386,000 sq. miles).

(source: Reuters)