Indias Energy Security: Challenges & Opportunities

In the 1990s, the Gulf Crisis had brought the concept of energy security to the fore. In recent years once again, global realities of the 21st century have further altered the conceptualization of national security, and energy has once again come to the fore as one of its pivotal elements. Given that energy is crucial in provisioning of transportation, industrial development, communication, education and health delivery systems, India needs to focus on ensuring reliable and adequate availability of energy. In order to deliver a sustained growth rate of 8%-10% (the required rate of growth if India has to eradicate poverty and meet its human development goal) till 2031/32, and meet the lifeline energy needs of all citizens, it is estimated that at a conservative level, India would need around 1350 mtoe of commercial energy by 2031/32 as compared to 327 mtoe in 2003/04 (Planning Commission, 2006). Energy is therefore increasingly being viewed as a strategic commodity which has important implications for ensuring sustained growth of the economy and fulfilment of national development interests.