The Hindu Business Line : Plan panel wants role of technology in energy assessed

Recognising the crucial role energy plays in propelling the economy into a higher growth path in the Eleventh Plan, the Planning Commission has underlined the need to assess the state of technology and the potentials to scale up efficiency in energy producing public sector units.

Sources in the energy industry told Business Line here that in a communication to the Union Minister of Heavy Industry & Public Enterprises, Mr Santosh Mohan Dev, the Planning Commission, Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahulwalia, is understood to have underlined the fact that to meet the energy goals of the 11th Plan and beyond, efficiently, it is critical that public sector units as the Bharat Heavy Electricials Ltd (BHEL), which contributes to energy production in a big way, stays at the forefront of technology absorption and application.

Upgrading technology

The Plan panel has said technology upgradation in energy producing sectors remains crucial for two specific reasons. One, the availability and cost of energy would be a critical constraint on achieving "our growth targets and this means our energy producing units should benchmark their technology with the best available to ensure that we are not losing out on opportunities to reduce the cost of producing energy".

Second, the sources said, the energy scenario concerning global warming highlights the need to be abreast with the technology options in each sector, which might be relevant or might soon become relevant for cutting down green house gas emissions. Hence, there is a need to make a conscious bid to be aware of options and ensure that "we are at the forefront with those technologies that are relevant" for us, the Deputy Chairman, Plan panel has observed.

The Plan panel has suggested that the board of BHEL might be asked to consider commissioning an independent consultant with the requisite knowledge of global practice, to assess the extant status of technology in each of these organisations and benchmark them against best practices adapted by other producers in other countries.

Specific focus

This could be done with a specific focus on assessing, among others, relevance and availability of various modern energy technologies across the gamut of activities of the unit, extent and effectiveness of application of the relevant technologies relative to their potential for the particular unit and technology roadmap for the units to score global benchmarks, along with an action plan for implementation.

In the event of BHEL opting to follow such an exercise, the Plan panel would interact with the public sector company to elaborate on the objectives and help it frame the appropriate terms of reference. Since, the Planning Commission is in the process of finalising the Eleventh Plan, the need for undertaking the proposed study as early as possible is also highlighted, the sources added.

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