INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra

Modi sees scope for further reform of the country's energy sector and has received "focused suggestions" from some of the world's leading energy companies, the office of the premier said on Monday.

Under Modi, the world's third-biggest oil consumer is trying to use its market size to strike better deals with oil exporters and attract investment into India's exploration and refining industries.

Executives from companies including Rosneft, BP, Exxon Mobil, Reliance Industries, Saudi Aramco, Royal Dutch Shell, Vedanta, Schlumberger and Halliburton met Modi as the industry gathered in New Delhi for the three-day

India Energy Forum, which finishes on Tuesday.

"Participants appreciated the pace and drive with which Prime Minister Modi has brought about reform in the energy sector," Modi's office said in a statement after the meeting.

"Subjects such as the need for a unified energy policy, contract frameworks and arrangements, requirement of seismic data sets, encouragement for biofuels, improving gas supply, setting up of a gas hub and regulatory issues came up for discussion."

The statement said that many suggestions at the last meeting in 2016 have helped guide Indian policy-making and that Modi said he appreciated the "focused suggestions" made this year and that "scope for reform in many areas still exists".