According to Chief Economic Advisor Anantha Nageswaran, India’s energy security is the biggest challenge in sustaining the growth that is needed to tackle poverty and bring about higher standards of living for all its citizens.
He said that India has made some progress in tapping domestic and renewable sources of energy to minimize the energy gap, as well as to reduce the climate change impact of energy generation. However, much more needs to be done to ensure that the country has sustainable and secure access to the energy that it needs. He also noted that India must strive to balance its security of energy with security of supply, in order to ensure that there is no undue disruption to its growth and development plans.
Nageswaran said that India needs to focus on building resilience in its energy systems and investing in energy efficiency, both of which would help address the issue of energy security. In addition, it needs to invest in research and development for novel energy sources, such as renewables and clean fuels, that are cost-effective and environmentally friendly. He emphasised the need for India to take a holistic approach when it comes to energy security, incorporating both energy efficiency and energy sourcing to ensure sustainability.