18 Feb, 2009   ·    IPCS and Assocham

Our expanding economy, growing population, rising standards of living and limited availability of indigenous energy sources pose serious challenges for India's long term energy security. Though some sectoral initiatives like India-Hydrocarbon Vision 2025, target of doubling the generation capacity to ensure "Power to all by 2012", normative target 20,000 MW of nuclear power by 2020 and the Electricity Act 2003 have been commendable. Still, no concerted efforts have been made to address the core problem.

We should not look at energy security in isolation from the rest of the world. In a global marketplace, our energy security is directly linked not only to our domestic supplies, but also to the global situation as a whole. Our energy security also depends on an efficient domestic and international infrastructure to support all segments of the energy supply chain.

In order to ensure energy security, it is imperative that a unified energy policy be formulated. The goal should be to ensure reliable, affordable and environmentally sound energy supplies on a long-term basis. Apart from improving the indigenous production of crude oil, we should also try to explore new and renewable sources of energy, which are available in India in bounty. This is no doubt a difficult goal but is achievable. We will need political will, best efforts by industry leaders and experts, and above all, initiatives in science, research and engineering technology.

Keeping this in view, the study makes attempts at exploring avenues to create self-sufficiency in the supply of energy in India in order to meet the increasing demands of power generation and other needs which are essential to give a thrust to the Indian economy. An overview of the energy security problem in India, strategies for diversification of supply and use of alternative energy resources are the main focus of the study.

IPCS and Assocham
New Delhi: IPCS and Assocham, 2004

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