‘Power’ brokers in talks

If Australia desires, India will be happy to take the nuclear relationship forward.

That was the message India’s Union Minister of Power Sushil Kumar Shinde sent out while visiting Australia recently.

Speaking on the possibility of any collaboration/joint project with Australia in the field of nuclear technology, he said if Australia desires India sure will be happy to enter into such collaboration.

Taking time out from his busy schedule, the minister made it a point to meet and interact with the Indian community in Sydney on June 12 at Hotel Shangri La.

He was accompanied by the Indian High Commissioner in Australia Sujatha Singh and Consul General of India (Sydney) Amit Dasgupta.

The minister shared with the Indian community highlights of the meetings with the Australian ministers and answered their queries on power and energy in India.

He said he had met Australian Minister for Energy, Resources and Tourism, Martin Ferguson, in Canberra and discussed with him strategic long time co-operation in the energy sector.

“We have got very good response from Australia as far as collaboration between the two countries is concerned in the power sector,” Mr

Shinde noted.

He also discussed with his Australian counterpart the possibilities of export of liquefied natural gas from Australia to India.

When asked why India is looking for LNG from Australia and not the Gulf countries from where it could be cheaper and easier to avail, he said India is already in contract with Qatar but in the present competitive world, there is no harm in getting good and cheaper fuel from other countries as well.

The minister mentioned that since Australia has leading technology in solar energy, India has requested Australia for technological cooperation in this field as well. India is also keen on enhancing the co-operation and collaboration in the fields of implementation of clean coal technology, solar and geothermal energy.

The minister said that by the year 2020, India will have 20,000 mega watt of electricity generated through solar energy.

“By 2012, every Indian village will be electrified. Very soon the shortage of electricity we go,” he added.

Giving a panoramic view of India’s power sector the minister said, “India is marching at a very rapid pace in the power sector and we have huge opportunities for investments and technology”. He added that investors from the world over have shown increased confidence in the Indian power sector.

The Indian minister said he had also met Victorian Energy Minister Mr Peter Batchelor and highlighted opportunities for investments in Indian power sector and interest of Indian companies to invest in coal and gas sector in Australia.

The Indian delegation accompanying the Power Minister to Australia included Power Secretary P Uma Shankar, NTPC CMD R S Sharma and Powergrid CMD S K Chaturvedi.

Shifting focus to climate change, Mr Shinde highlighted India’s commitment towards climate change issues. He outlined several initiatives of the Government of India such as the National Solar Mission, under which 20,000 mega watt of capacity through solar energy is to be added by 2020. He also listed various other schemes and reforms in the energy sector.

“Australia has started CO2 capturing and storage. We will try to become a member on research programs on the same,” Mr Shinde said.

The Indian delegation had earlier visited the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI) in Canberra.

Mamta Sharma