India -
U.S. Energy Dialogue
Washington, DC
July 18, 2005
Fact Sheet
Growing concerns about energy security have prompted India and the U.S.to
launch a new Energy Dialogue that reflects the transformed strategic
relationship between the world’s two largest democracies. Adequate and
reliable supplies of energy at reasonable cost are essential to fuel India’s
rapidly growing economy. The U.S. and India are becoming increasingly
reliant upon oil and natural gas markets to satisfy their energy needs. Both
nations depend heavily upon domestic supplies of coal for electric power
generation and seek to increase their utilization of natural gas, renewable
energy and nuclear power as well as pursue energy efficient practices to
ensure a balanced and sustainable energy economy that helps preserve a clean
environment. The United States and India recognize their mutual interests
are best served by working together in a collaborative fashion to ensure
stability in global energy markets.
The U.S. – India Energy Dialogue was launched on May 31, 2005. It
established five Working Groups along with a Steering Committee to provide
oversight. The goals of the Dialogue are to promote increased trade and
investment in the energy sector by working with the public and private
sectors to further identify areas of cooperation and collaboration. Building
upon the broad range of existing cooperation, it is hoped that this effort
will help mobilize secure, clean reliable and affordable sources of energy.
The five Working Groups are:
- Oil and Gas,
- Coal,
- Power and Energy Efficiency,
- New Technologies and Renewable Energy, and:
- Civil Nuclear.
The Oil and Gas Working Group will endeavor to strengthen mutual energy
security and promote stable energy markets to ensure adequate supplies of
energy that will support desired levels of economic growth. It will
additionally work as a forum to exchange information and develop lines of
communication for policy coordination in times of market instability, and
promote increased trade and investment in the oil and gas sector. The
Working Group met in July and agreed on future activities.
The Power and Energy Efficiency Working Group will advance understanding of
efficient generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and
promote the exchange of information on regulatory policies. It will develop
cooperative programs and promote technologies to enhance end-use efficiency
with special emphasis on the “last mile” distribution and utilization of
electricity in urban and rural networks. It will also conduct cooperation on
clean coal preparation and modern coal conversion systems in power
generation.
The Coal Working Group will promote the efficient and environmentally
responsible use of coal. Its activities will be designed to enhance the
understanding of coal-related energy issues and promote the exchange of
information on policies, programs, and technologies with special emphasis on
coal utilization for power generation and clean fuels production. The
Working Group met in July and agreed on future activities.
The New Technology and Renewable Energy Working group will promote the
development and deployment of clean, new and renewable energy and
technologies leading to enhanced energy security and stable energy markets
that will support desired levels of economic growth with appropriate concern
for the environment.
The Civil Nuclear Working Group will foster exchanges between the Department
of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and India’s Department
of Atomic Energy and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board on each country’s
peaceful nuclear energy-related initiatives, including national practices,
research interests, approaches to regulatory oversight and views of the role
of nuclear energy in meeting global energy requirements. These exchanges may
include discussions on peaceful applications of fusion science and related
fundamental research topics.