Opinion
Future shocks
07 Jan 2007 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| Business World
Living in this world would get much more difficult if climate change continued unmitigated in the future. Already, average Arctic temperatures increased at almost twice the global average rate in the past 100years. Contraction of snow covered area, increases in the depth of thaw over most permafrost regions and decrease in sea ice extent are projected. Arctic late summer ice is expected to disappear entirely by the latter part of the 21st century. There would bean increase in frequency of hot extremes, heat waves, heavy precipitation and tropical cyclones.
Mountain glaciers and snow cover have declined on average in both hemispheres, and this would continue, with serious implications for India, especially for northern India - the rivers originating in the Himalaya-Hindu Kush range depend on supply from the glaciers in the region. With a decline in the mass of ice, river water flow is expected to shrink.
Is the US a major beneficiary of Hi-tech research being undertaken in India?: R&D culture hardly conducive here
30 Oct 2006 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Financial Express
It would be a very limiting view and, therefore, patently wrong to say that the US is a major beneficiary of hi-tech research being undertaken in India. In fact, conversely if there was adequate high-level research on some frontier technologies taking place in India, we could benefit greatly from hi-tech research being undertaken in the US.
In terminal decline
03 Oct 2006 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| DNA
Recent developments introducing reservations in our universities and institutions of higher learning reached a high pitch with protests and agitations about two months ago, but have since subsided due to several uncertainties on how this issue will play out in the future. While political developments and decisions such as this one often trigger an emotive response on the part of the public, some of the basic shortfalls and weaknesses in the existing system are generally ignored in the media.
Delhi doesn't get this power game
14 Sep 2006 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| The Indian Express
Last year, Delhi's Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) scored a point when their protests against power tariff hikes yielded positive results. While the Supreme Court last month permitted the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission to announce the tariff for the current year, referring the matter of depreciation rate to the appellate tribunal again, RWA representatives need to evaluate the rationality of their call for non-payment of electricity bills to the tune of 50%.
Private participation in power - Enabling environment vital to energy security
25 Aug 2006 |
Ms Anjali Garg
,Mr Sumit Malik
| Business Line
In view of the widening electricity demand-supply gap, huge investment requirements and shortfall in investment targets, it is imperative for the government to create an enabling environment to attract greater private participation in the power sector.
India's energy sector is currently confronted with multiple challenges, which stem not only from supply-side constraints but also from demand pressures imposed by a buoyant economy and a growing population. As per recent Planning Commission estimates, if economic growth is sustained in the 7-8 per cent range, the energy demand would rise by at least 5.2 per cent annually.
In the face of relatively inflexible supply options, the gap between energy requirement and availability can only be expected to widen in the future. This gap raises serious concerns, not only about the country's energy security but also on the sustainability of its economic growth momentum. On a more micro-level, the shortage could lead to rising incidence of power outages and greater import dependency on fossil fuels such as crude oil and coal.
Step on oil & gas
11 Aug 2006 |
| The Economic Times
After a very arduous journey spanning over eight years, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Bill was passed by both the Houses and received Presidential assent and thereafter became an Act on April 3, 2006. With this, the Indian oil and gas industry can now look forward to a new phase of reform and development.
View from the top: Re-energising India
31 Jul 2006 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India
The recent issue of The Economist carried an advertisement seeking expression of interest in a 2400 MWe nuclear power station in India.
The information carried explains that the company concerned intends to award a contract to construct a 2400 MWe nuclear power station on build, operate and maintain basis. Such an ad wasn't likely to have been placed by any organisation five years ago.
Up, up and away
20 Jul 2006 |
| Hindustan Times
There is a growing consensus in the international energy business that oil will reach $100 a barrel, plus or minus $5, by December. Economies, which will best handle the oil price spike that is expected to rebalance the energy markets, are those that have been most honest about oil prices. In other words, they have not disguised how high global oil prices have become to either individuals or firms. And they have focused on stepping up growth through more reforms and not holding down interest rates. Dr Leena Srivastava of TERI has pointed out, 30 to 50 per cent of India's energy production is wasted because prices are so out of whack with reality. Higher prices would have helped reduce this sort of leakage, making it easier for India's economy to post solid growth even at $100 a barrel.
General scenario not very inspiring
17 Jul 2006 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Financial Express
It is very difficult to generalise on this as well as any other such issue in India. Whether the environment is conducive or otherwise for Indian scientists and researchers to undertake world-class research is something on which a uniform opinion would not be valid. We do have pockets of excellence where outstanding work is being done, in several fields of science and technology.
Weigh the costs and benefits of creating monopolies
14 Jul 2006 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| The Financial Express
A widely held view, spanning various network-based sectors such as electricity, water and now natural gas, is that distribution of these services is a natural monopoly. However, this view needs to be examined in the context of the maturity of the existing distribution systems, their coverage and age. The telecom sector is an outstanding example of competitive distribution wherein multiple service providers have rolled out their network infrastructure to provide competition. Of course, the number of competitors varies across distribution circles. The underlying premise in the way that this sector expanded was that the economics of the business was linked to both the size of the system as well as the intensity of customer loads!