PM skips politics, touts economics of energy

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the development of nuclear energy as he said it has an important role to play in addressing the country’s energy security needs.

“From a long-term perspective, nuclear energy and solar energy can play an important role in addressing our energy security needs. Our government is committed to the development of nuclear energy,” Mr Singh said at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of ONGC’s new building Rajiv Gandhi Urja Bhavan here.

Urging the political parties to appreciate the need of pursuing a strategy for the country’s energy needs, he said “no government can afford to shirk this responsibility and hope to find favour with the people”.

Mr Singh, however, refrained from making any direct mention to the nuclear deal with the US, which has created an impasse between the government and the Left parties. The Prime Minister reasoned further that the oil import bill would put an unbearable burden on the Indian economy.

He also expressed concern over ever-rising fuel prices and said there is a need that people are made aware of the “economics of energy”. “In our country, we have excessively interfered in energy-pricing. Each time our utilities have to raise rates and our oil companies have to raise prices, extraneous considerations come in,” he added.

Emphasising the need for alternative sources of energy, he said with the domestic oil production barely meeting one-third of the country’s requirements, India’s energy security strategy should include alternative fuels and technologies. Mr Singh called for investments in research and development to make commercial use of solar energy. “We also need to examine the potential of hydrogen as a fuel of the future,” he said.

On the occasion, petroleum minister Murli Deora gave a broad sketch of the government’s proposal to launch energy-efficient lamps called Nutan Deep by Diwali this year. The lamp, meant for rural masses, would save more than 50% of kerosene as compared to the normal kerosene lamps.

Talking about the new building, Mr Deora said it would house a research centre which would develop alternative energy sources “so as to approach the issue of energy security in a truly comprehensive and sustainable manner”. Designed by noted architect Hafeez Contractor, the building would be ready by April 2009, he said.