Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether there has been an increasing necessity to fortify relations with energy exporting countries;

(b) if so, whether India has electricity grid connection, gas pipeline network etc. with other countries and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Energy Security Conference was organised by the Ministry recently;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the details of issues taken up during the said conference; and

(e) the details of steps taken by the Government to explore possibilities to meet country`s energy demand in the coming years?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI PRENEET KAUR)

(a) Yes.

(b) India has high voltage connection with Bhutan and interconnections facilities for power exchanges with Nepal. Work on establishing high voltage transmission connections with Bangladesh and Nepal is under implementation. Feasibility study for under sea cable transmission lines with Sri Lanka is being undertaken. Presently there is no gas pipeline network with any other country.

(c) Yes. Energy Security Conference 2012 was held on 13.12.2012 in New Delhi. It was organized by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and supported by Ministry of External Affairs.

(d) This conference had sessions on (I) Energy Security: Challenges and Opportunities; (ii) India`s Energy Security: Diversification of Energy Sources (Oil and Gas); (iii) Regional Cooperation for Ensuring Energy Security; and (iv) Emerging Technologies for Ensuring Energy Security.

(e) The steps taken to meet our future energy demand include supporting acquisition of overseas energy assets by our oil, gas and coal companies; enhancing country`s Regassified LNG (RLNG) handling capacity of 14.8 MMTPA to 50 MMTPA by 2016-17; increasing domestic exploration efforts; Shale gas and Coal Bed Methane development program; power capacity addition of around 88000 MW through conventional sources and 30000 MW through renewable energy by the end of 12th Five Year Plan.

http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult15.aspx?qref=141392.

Miscellaneous,

South Asia