‘Saarc regional energy grid impractical idea’
27 Nov 2012 5:24 AM IST
New and Renewable Energy Secretary Gireesh B Pardhan has announced that India’s electricity target through new and renewable energy in the 12th Plan period, especially through solar and wind, has been doubled to 54,000 mw from its current installed capacity of 27,000 mw.
Inaugurating a conference on Energy Cooperation In South Asia, jointly organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (Ficci ) and Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Pradhan disapproved of the proposal for setting up of a Saarc Regional Grid to cement energy co-operation among Saarc nations. A Saarc Regional grid seems impractical in one go, he opined. Elaborating on the 12th plan target, Pradhan pointed out that by 2017 India would take its new and renewable capacity to 54000 mw. In 2009 India produced energy at an average tariff of Rs 18 a unit which today stands at Rs 7.40 per unit, he noted.
This fall in tariff for solar energy in such a short period has encouraged policy makers to explore greater possibilities to harness solar energy at a faster pace and this is one of the reasons the ministry has revised the target for 2017, he informed.
Earlier, Pradhan released a Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry policy paper titled Energy Policy in South Asia: The way Forward to Prompt Regional Trade.
Addressing the conference, Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Vikramjit Singh Sahney stressed that the Saarc nations should identify commodities of common interest and begin to enhance their trade for mutual benefit. He said that the ongoing move on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline could be a model for public-private partnership (PPP) in mega-infrastructure projects in the Saarc region. India Energy Forum President P S Bami observed that the entire Saarc region is energy deficient and enhancing cross-border trade by permitting accessibility of products of friendly nations would lay the foundations for good relations.
The others who also on the occasion included FICCI Director General Arbind Prasad, SAARC Chamber of Commerce Secretary General Iqbal Tabish and former SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Tariq Sayeed. The policy paper states that the major energy issues facing south Asian nations are rapidly rising energy demand and the need to promote cross-border energy trade due to energy shortages, usually in the form of frequent, costly and widespread power outages.
The paper stressed that regional cooperation in the form of energy trade and investment is a highly feasible option due to the resources complementarities of the region’s countries.
In July 2004 Saarc had endorsed the concept of an ‘Energy Ring’ of inter-connected energy systems in the region. The policy paper notes that the successful implementation of the idea of of energy ring would provide key benefits to the region such as an end to the persistent energy crisis, enhanced and sustainable rate of growth, and improvement in quality of life of the people.
Inaugurating a conference on Energy Cooperation In South Asia, jointly organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (Ficci ) and Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Pradhan disapproved of the proposal for setting up of a Saarc Regional Grid to cement energy co-operation among Saarc nations. A Saarc Regional grid seems impractical in one go, he opined. Elaborating on the 12th plan target, Pradhan pointed out that by 2017 India would take its new and renewable capacity to 54000 mw. In 2009 India produced energy at an average tariff of Rs 18 a unit which today stands at Rs 7.40 per unit, he noted.
This fall in tariff for solar energy in such a short period has encouraged policy makers to explore greater possibilities to harness solar energy at a faster pace and this is one of the reasons the ministry has revised the target for 2017, he informed.
Earlier, Pradhan released a Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry policy paper titled Energy Policy in South Asia: The way Forward to Prompt Regional Trade.
Addressing the conference, Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Vikramjit Singh Sahney stressed that the Saarc nations should identify commodities of common interest and begin to enhance their trade for mutual benefit. He said that the ongoing move on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline could be a model for public-private partnership (PPP) in mega-infrastructure projects in the Saarc region. India Energy Forum President P S Bami observed that the entire Saarc region is energy deficient and enhancing cross-border trade by permitting accessibility of products of friendly nations would lay the foundations for good relations.
The others who also on the occasion included FICCI Director General Arbind Prasad, SAARC Chamber of Commerce Secretary General Iqbal Tabish and former SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Tariq Sayeed. The policy paper states that the major energy issues facing south Asian nations are rapidly rising energy demand and the need to promote cross-border energy trade due to energy shortages, usually in the form of frequent, costly and widespread power outages.
The paper stressed that regional cooperation in the form of energy trade and investment is a highly feasible option due to the resources complementarities of the region’s countries.
In July 2004 Saarc had endorsed the concept of an ‘Energy Ring’ of inter-connected energy systems in the region. The policy paper notes that the successful implementation of the idea of of energy ring would provide key benefits to the region such as an end to the persistent energy crisis, enhanced and sustainable rate of growth, and improvement in quality of life of the people.
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