Opinion

Arise, before your tap runs dry

24 Feb 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle

Just a few days ago, Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh achieved the dubious distinction of being declared the first city in the country whose only option for supplying drinking water to its populace was reduced to supply by tankers. This situation arose because the Gambhir dam, which accounts for 96 per cent of the city’s water supply, went dry. The city government had to appeal to the railway minister to provide adequate capacities on the railway system to ferry water to the city. The situation in surrounding areas/districts is no better.

India and China - Who will grab the gas?

21 Feb 2009 |
Mr R K Batra
| The Hindu Business Line

China's current natural gas consumption is twice that of India and both need gas imports by way of transnational pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) by sea to meet growing demand. While natural gas forms 8 per cent of India’s commercial energy supply, it is only 3 per cent in China, which wishes to raise it to 10 per cent. China’s projected gas demand will, therefore, outstrip that of India. The two countries will account for most of the increase in imported gas demand in Asia and many of the countries being targeted for supply are the same.

India in a post-crisis world

10 Feb 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle

A Frenchman from the environmental business recently encouraged me to think about the global financial crisis as an opportunity rather than a threat to sustainable development. Citing the example of the US, which is likely to be hit very hard and long by the crisis, he pointed out its focus on the creation of green jobs through the promotion of the renewable energy industry and its acceptance of higher vehicular energy efficiency standards driven by the state of California as a driver for national change. He also philosophised about the need to turn on its head the paradigm for development, which he believed strongly would be driven from India - a society that is steeped in historically rich and enlightened value systems.

Complexities of energy security

27 Jan 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle

For decades now, India has considered oil to be its swing fuel that it could easily import in times of shortages and cut back on those imports when superfluous. This strategy worked reasonably well till the time the prices remained reasonably stable and within a given range. The extreme volatility and sky-rocketing prices, as witnessed over the past several months, has exposed the folly of such an approach.

India's integrated energy policy

13 Jan 2009 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle

The integrated energy policy of India, which has been in the making since 2005, finally received Cabinet approval in the last week of December 2008. The report of the expert committee set up to define the integrated energy policy was available in 2006. However, it is only the press release of the 2008 version that is available at present and we can hope to see the full document soon.

Let's light up the lives of India's poor millions

11 Jan 2009 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India

One important message that the voters have given, in states where elections were held recently, is a clear preference for performance and development. India\'s place in global affairs has been enhanced substantially in recent years, largely because of impressive economic growth. The strength of this country and the influence it is able to exert in global affairs would depend essentially on India\'s place as a global economic power. Political leaders, therefore, must not only live up to the expectations of their individual constituencies but ensure the growing economic strength of India. And also see to it that the benefits reach out to every citizen of the country.

Ring in the new: Let's take a fresh approach to development

01 Jan 2009 |
Dr R K Pachauri
| The Times of India

As we enter 2009 some sad memories of 2008 could obviously cloud our outlook. But the world and this country must move on in the new year. The unhappy developments that took place in the last year should provide us with determination and will to improve our governance and refurbish our institutions by taking care of structural infirmities and systemic failures that contributed to the economic meltdown at the global level, and the easy passage of the terrorists involved in the Mumbai outrage. In defining our solutions for the future, it would be heartening to see positive signals in some very recent developments.

Not much headway is expected in terms of oil and gas discoveries in 2009

01 Jan 2009 |
Mr R K Batra
| Infrastructure Today

With the wide fluctuation in oil prices in 2008, stemming initially by high demand and speculative activity to a steep drop because of global recession, it is difficult to predict what will happen to crude prices in 2009. Much will depend on remedial action taken by the new President of the USA Mr Barack Obama to get the country out of its own recession, which will have a positive global impact. But hazarding a guess, I would suggest that despite the cut by OPEC in its production of 2 million barrels per day, demand is likely to be weak, and crude prices will range between $ 40 and $ 60 per barrel.

Price cuts don't make economic sense

10 Dec 2008 |
Ms Ruchika Chawla
| The Economic Times (Bangalore edition)

International energy prices have been on a roller-coaster ride the past few months. The price of India’s crude oil basket has fallen by 62% over the past four months, since it touched an all-time high.

While the fall in prices has prompted the government to decrease retail prices of petrol and diesel, the average crude oil price for the current financial year hovers around $102/bbl and the prevailing retail prices are much lower than the corresponding trade parity petroleum prices.

Elect a corruption-free regime

02 Dec 2008 |
Dr Leena Srivastava
| Financial Chronicle

The stories don't go away - corruption is rampant in every sub-sector of the energy economy. Coal blocks are being rapidly allocated - as opposed to being competitively bid - to reap the maximum advantage from the informal margin that has been established on it. Environmental clearances for projects are being 'sold' with complete disregard to the long-term damage to ecosystem stability. Rich, dense forests are being compromised in the name of development. Petroleum product pricing cannot be rationalised despite the evidence that subsidies are not reaching the poor, because of the handful of politically well-connected people who own the dealerships/distributorships and are the main beneficiaries of the economic leakages that ensue.