The Hindu Business Line : IEA engages China, India in energy interaction

Mumbai, Dec. 7 After focussing on China and India in its World Energy Outlook 2007 released last month, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) has taken forward its decision to engage two of worlds largest emerging economies by inviting them to participate in a key meeting.

High-level delegations of China and India have been invited to participate in Committee Week – several days of focussed discussion on key energy-related issues including emergency response preparedness; outlook for oil, gas and coal markets, energy technology collaboration and energy efficiency measures.

The IEA has 27 member-countries.

Delegation

The Indian delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Power, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and the NTPC (formerly, National Thermal Power Corporation).

Clearly, rapid economic growth in the two Asian giants China and India means more consumption of energy products and by implication, environmental degradation. Asian growth is bound to impact global energy markets. Energy security and environmental sustainability are issues IEA is deeply concerned with.

Much co-operation has occurred with China and India in improving energy data collection, energy efficiency, energy market reform policies, technology and the development of emergency preparedness and response systems; but the magnitude of the challenges calls for greater effort, IEA said in a release.

Collaboration

After Chinese researchers met their IEA member-counterparts, it is India’s turn. In April next, Indian researchers will meet with IEA to discuss direct collaboration in energy research, development, demonstration and deployment in fields such as renewable energy, clean-coal and demand-side management.

To meet the challenge of climate change, China and India have been invited to join the IEA in new work on Financing Low-Carbon Technologies in Emerging Economies.