Energy security and energy diplomacy of India and

Energy security and energy diplomacy of India and South Asian nations

Outline of the lecture 1) Energy and development concerns in South Asia (some essential facts); 2) Challenges for South Asia; 3) SAARC and institutional mechanism for energy security; 4) Opportunities in the region and beyond; 5) Energy policy and energy security of India; 6) Energy policy and energy security of Pakistan; 7) Energy security of Afghanistan; 8) Energy security of other countries of South Asia.

Energy and Development Concerns in South Asia • Burgeoning growth in population ( currently stands at 1359 million, 20 % of World Population) • High income and capability poverty (Income poverty varies from 39. 7 for Srilanka to 85. 7 Bangladesh; HDI rank varies from 95 for Maldives to 146 for Bangladesh) • High dependence on imported oil (varies from around 25 % for Bhutan to 100% for the Maldives) • High energy poverty among the rural masses (completely isolated from modern commercial sources of energy for cooking and lighting) • Traditional fuel i. e. biomass and firewood consumption as per cent of total energy requirement is very high • Per capita commercial energy consumption is at abysmally low level but energy intensity (energy consumption per unit of GDP) is considerably higher- hints towards inefficient energy utilization.

Energy policy and energy security of India The energy policy of India is largely defined by the country's expanding energy deficit and increased focus on developing alternative sources of energy, particularly nuclear, solar and wind energy. The energy consumption in India is the fourth biggest after China, USA and Russia. The total primary energy consumption from crude oil (29. 45%), natural gas (7. 7%), coal (54. 5%), nuclear energy (1. 26%), hydro electricity (5. 0%), wind power, biomass electricity and solar power is 595 Mtoe in the year 2013. In the year 2013, India's net imports are nearly 144. 3 million tons of crude oil, 16 Mtoe of LNG and 95 Mtoe coal totalling to 255. 3 Mtoe of primary energy which is equal to 42. 9% of total primary energy consumption. About 70% of India's electricity generation capacity is from fossil fuels. India is largely dependent on fossil fuel imports to meet its energy demands - by 2030, India's dependence on energy imports is expected to exceed 53% of the country's total energy consumption.

Energy policy and energy security of India In 2009 -2010, the country imported 159. 26 million tonnes of crude oil which amounts to 80% of its domestic crude oil consumption and 31% of the country's total imports are oil imports. The growth of electricity generation in India has been hindered by domestic coal shortages and as a consequence, India's coal imports for electricity generation increased by 18% in 2010. Due to rapid economic expansion, India has one of the world's fastest growing energy markets and is expected to be the second-largest contributor to the increase in global energy demand by 2035, accounting for 18% of the rise in global energy consumption. Given India's growing energy demands and limited domestic fossil fuel reserves, the country has ambitious plans to expand its renewable and nuclear power industries. India has the world's fifth largest wind power market and also plans to add about 100, 000 MW of solar power capacity by 2020. India also envisages to increase the contribution of nuclear power to overall electricity generation capacity from 4. 2% to 9% within 25 years. The country has five nuclear reactors under construction (third highest in the world) and plans to construct 18 additional nuclear reactors (second highest in the world) by 2025.

Energy policy and energy security of Pakistan Due to rising demand a failing power infrastructure severe electricity shortages have occurred in Pakistan. This has led to widespread rolling blackouts that have paralysed industry and led to protests and rioting. Power outages can last 6 -8 hours a day in the cities and many more in the rural areas. According to Mahnaz Parach of Network for Consumer Protection "Children can't do their homework. Housework doesn't get done, as washing machines and other appliances cannot work. When you go home from work, you have no idea whethere will be electricity at home. Your whole life is disturbed. " Experts have warned of an impending energy crisis since 2006. Speaking at a Seminar 'Fueling the Future: Meeting Pakistan's Energy Needs in the 21 st Century' held in Washington, D. C. in June 2006 then energy adviser to the prime minister of Pakistan Mukhtar Ahmed stated that the country was taking steps to address the energy shortage. Pakistan Electric Power Company estimates that there is a shortage of 6 gigawatts or about 60% of its total generation. One of the main reasons of the shortage is thought to be the failure of past governments to anticipate growth in need and the delay in implementation of projects to increase power production. In addition there is widespread power theft and lack of investment in the existing power grid.

Energy security of Afghanistan Energy in Afghanistan is primarily provided by hydropower. Two decades of warfare have left the country's power grid badly damaged. As of 2012, approximately 33% of Afghan population has access to electricity and in the capital Kabul, 70% have access to reliable 24 hr electricity. Afghanistan generates around 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity mainly from hydropower followed by fossil fuel and solar. Officials from Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) estimate that the country will need around 3, 000 MW to meet its needs by 2020. The Afghan National Development Strategy has identified alternative energy, such as wind and solar energy, as a high value power source to develop. Alternative energy projects are already being tested across the country, from wind turbines in Panjshir Province to micro hydro dams in Badakhshan, to family-size biogas digesters throughout the country.