Opinion

From Non-Proliferation to Civilian Energy Cooperation

21 Jul 2005 |
Ms Veena Aggarwal
| The Indian Express

This is the right time for India to look again at nuclear power as an important source of energy in the future. Energy security is a hot topic today, and so is sustainable development. Environmental concerns relating to carbon emissions are also increasingly centre-stage. The role of nuclear power has to be appraised in this context.

Synergy in energy

14 Jul 2005 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| The Financial Express

Oil prices are increasing rapidly while we have been debating dismantling of the administered pricing mechanism ad nauseum. Paradoxically, even a private company like Reliance has been asked to share in meeting the subsidy burden! On closer analysis, however, this may not be completely unjustified given that the petroleum product pricing regime, based on a flawed import parity pricing formula, allows refiners huge margins.

What do gas finds mean for energy economics?

06 Jul 2005 |
Mr R K Batra
| The Economic Times

The last few months have been one of the most exciting times for the development of the natural gas market in India. The petroleum minister had lengthy and fruitful discussions with his counterparts in Iran and Azerbaijan for gas supplies by pipeline; Shell commissioned their LNG terminal at Hazira; a five-million tonne per annum contract for supply of LNG from Iran was signed; after several false starts, a firm plan to revive the LNG fired Dhabol Plant in Maharashtra was agreed to and the icing on the cake has been the announcement by GSPC of a bonanza discovery in the KG Basin.

Firm prices will boost the viability of renewable energy alternatives: Our country is a repository of several kinds of resources that can be tapped

22 Jun 2005 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| The Financial Express

While India has been significantly dependent on oil imports for several years, the government followed a system of pooling the prices of domestically produced crude (highly subsidised) with imported crude, thereby providing a significant price protection to consumers. Combined with further product subsidies, the final oil price to consumers was significantly lower than equivalent border prices.

The long view

17 Jun 2005 |
Mr Vikram Dayal
| TERI Newswire 11(12)

The events reported in newspapers and weeklies reflect the complexity of our world. Although newspapers do report forecasts, most notably, of the weather and the economy, analyses of the long term are neglected. Scenario analysis can help us go beyond the events of today to explore the future.

The energy charter treaty

07 Jun 2005 |
Mr R K Batra
| The Economic Times

We should aim at creating a level playing field for potential investors and gas producers, consumers and transit countries across south Asia, so that the various gas pipeline projects become a reality.

Falling water tables: addressing India's groundwater challenge

02 Jun 2005 |
| TERI Newswire 11(11)

In his book Outgrowing the earth: the food security challenge in an age of falling water tables and rising temperatures, Lester R Brown, the President of the Earth Policy Institute, Washington, DC, draws our attention to the twin challenges of climate change and groundwater depletion. He argues that crop production will suffer as global temperatures rise and groundwater tables fall.

Need for 'big ticket' action

28 May 2005 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Financial Express

The government's plan for issuing an ordinance to increase the supply of kerosene is a small measure to solve a huge tangle with many systemic ills. First, it is a well-established fact that a large quantity of kerosene is used for adulteration of other petroleum products. This clearly means the subsidy on kerosene is helping largely those involved in illegal activity. And only a small portion really benefits those whom it is designed to help.

Where to, after school?

21 May 2005 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| The Hindustan Times

India faces a huge crisis in terms of availability of advanced education for its students. This needs to be recognized and dealt with urgently, for mere exam reforms are insufficient.

Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya

16 May 2005 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Sunday Express

With the onset of summer, blackouts and power shedding have started imposing great hardship on domestic consumers and threaten to constrain economic activities in several parts of the country. Power outages and poor quality and reliability of supply have become endemic and perennial problems.