(Current Affairs) Important point of Energy Security

With the domestically available uranium and without any additional import beyond Kundankulam I and II plants under construction we can set up no more than 48,000 MW of nuclear plants by 2031 and only about 2,08,000 MW by 2051. With additional import of 30,000 MW of uranium based plants by 2020, we can reach 4,70,000 MW of nuclear capacity by 2050 if the three-stage programme is fully developed.

Since India is short of Uranium, the first phase plants cannot exceed 10,000 MW unless imported uranium is available.

Facts Regarding Energy Security

• Some 600 million Indians do not have access to electricity and about 700 million Indians use biomass as their primary energy resource for cooking and ensuring life line.

• A sustained economic growth of at least 9 Percent over the next 25 years is necessary for India need to eradicate poverty and meet its larger human development goals.

Guiding principles of the integrated energy policy:

• Energy markets should be competitive wherever possible for economic efficiency and for promoting optimal investment in energy.

• Given the need to expand supplies of energy public sector investment in energy must be supplemented by private investors.

• Subsidies are relevant but they must be transparent and targeted. Consideration should be given to alternative means of achieving the social objectives sought to be achieved by energy subsidies, through different methods including direct transfers to eligible households.

• Energy efficiency is extremely important and can be promoted by setting appropriate prices and this is particularly important where energy prices are rising.

• Public Sector Undertakings operating in the energy sector must operate with autonomy and also full accountability to ensure incentives for adequate investment through their own "resources and improvements in efficiency in energy production and distribution.

• For the second stage of India nuclear programme, India has already developed fast breeder reactors and a 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is under construction at Kalpakam. It is expected to attain critically in 2011.

Growth in India's energy demand:

• Various projections indicate that by 2031, India's energy requirements may increase to about 5 to 7 times at of 2001 levels. The Integrated energy Policy report brought out by the Planning Commission estimates that in an 8% GDP growth scenario, India's total commercial energy requirements would be in the range of 1514 mtoe (million tonnes of oil equivalent) to 1856 mtoe by 2031 under alternative scenarios (Planning Commission, 2006)

• TERI estimates indicate an import dependency of 78% for coal. 91% for oil and 34% for gas by year 2031 with current estimates future availability of indigenous energy.

Lighting A Billion Lives

• Over 1.6 6illion people in the world lac access to electricity; roughly 25% are in India alone.

• Recognizing the need to change the existing scenario, TERI, with its version to work for global sustainable development and its commitment towards creating innovative solutions for a better tomorrow, has undertaken an initiative of Lighting a Billion Lives' (LaBL) through the use of solar lighting devices.

• The Campaign aims to bring light into the live of one billion rural people by replacing the kerosene and paraffin lanterns with solar lighting devices. This wife facilitate education of children; provide better illumination and kerosene smoke –free environment for environment for women to do household chores; and provide opportunities for livelihoods both at the individual revel and at village level .

The RGGVY was launched in 2005 with the following goals.

1. Provide access to electricity to remaining un-electrified households.

2. Electrification of about 1.15 lakh un-electrified villages.

3. Free electricity connection to 2.34 Below Poverty Household (BPL)

   The target year of achieving these targets is 2009 and under this scheme capital subsidy was given on basis of 90% grants and 10% loan. Rs. 33000 crore as capital subsidy would be provided by Government of India for projects.

BIOFUELS In India

• Biofuel , or fuel derived from non-fossil plant sources is being seen today as a cleaner alternative to diesel. Biofuel development in India centers mainly around the cultivation and processing of Jatropha plant seeds to give biodiesel and producing ethanol from sugarcane. Ethanol can be blended with petrol for automobiles. Similarly, bio-diesel can be blended with high speed diesel for transport vehicles, generators, railway engines, irrigation pumps, etc. Large volumes of such oils can also substitute imported oil for making soap. In its National Biofuel Policy the Government of India has set a target of a minimum 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol and diesel across the country by 2017. Bio-diesel plantations would be encouraged only on waste community / government / forest lands, and not on fertile land. Minimum Support Price (MSP) would be announced to provide fair price to the growers. Minimum Purchase Price (MPP) for the purchase of bio-ethanol by the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) would be based on the actual cost of production and import price of bio-ethanol. In case of bio-diesel, the MPP would be linked to the prevailing retail diesel price. The National Biofuel Policy also envisages bringing bio-diesel and bio-ethanol under the ambit of "Declared Goods" by the Government to ensure their unrestricted movement.

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