core sector communique

Shri Shinde Emphasizes India’s Commitment to Shift to More Sustainable Energy Systems

Union Minister of Power, Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde has emphasized India’s commitment to responsible growth and transition to a more sustainable energy regime. He was addressing the ‘Ministerial Round Table: Transition Timeline to a New Energy World’ at Montreal, Canada on 16th September, 2010. Shri Shinde highlighted that Indian Government has taken many proactive measures to make the power sector investor friendly, reforms have been implemented, regulators are in place and our power sector is growing in a competitive environment where we have kept all the options open with a focus on sustainability – sustainability of energy sector.

The World Energy Council (WEC) meeting was attended by ministers of Algeria,Cameron, Haiti, India and Canada. Shri Shinde in his speech said that these conferences are good forum to understand the difficulties and potential of each other. He said that before defining the rules and policies we must understand the socio economic problems and developmental priorities of underdeveloped, developing and developed countries. They all have their own peculiar problems. This WEC meeting is on the backdrop of copenhegen. Addressing the gathering Shri Shinde said that this Congress is taking place at a time when the world grapples with two apparently opposing priorities – one to provide more and more energy to half the world’s population and the other to reduce Green House Gas emissions to the largest extent possible. We all need to work together to address these priorities and to move to a new energy trajectory. At the COP-15 meet in Copenhagen, the mandate was to enhance long term cooperation on climate change under the Bali Action Plan in accordance with the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. India, through its actions, has demonstrated commitment to these responsibilities.He briefed the audience about the policies of govt of India.

Prior to the conference Shri Shinde met Mr Peter Van Loan, the internationat trade minister of Canada. Both the dignitaries discussed the issues pertaining to Indo-Canadian relationship. While Shri Shinde expressed his happiness over the revival and new pace in bilateral relationship Mr Loan also said that both the countries have long history of good relations though there was a rough patch in- between, now we have started afresh. Shri Shinde informed Mr Loan about power sector developments and policies of Govt of India. He stressed that Indian investment in Canada is growing rapidly but Canadian investment is yet to pick up pace thus Mr. Loan need to push in this direction. The meeting ended with assurances of increased cooperation between both the countries.