The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : The fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue took place in New Delhi yesterday, co-chaired by India’s Power Minister Manohar Lal and the UK’s Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband. The dialogue marked an important milestone in strengthening the energy partnership between the two countries and focused on reviewing progress in key energy sectors, including power generation, renewable energy, and energy security.
Both Ministers emphasized the need to balance the goals of energy transition with sustainable economic growth. They stressed that it is essential to ensure affordable and clean energy access for all citizens while tackling the challenges posed by climate change. The dialogue underscored the importance of maintaining energy security in an evolving global energy landscape and aligning energy policies with broader goals of sustainable development.
During the discussions, the Ministers highlighted several key areas of future cooperation. These included power distribution, sector reforms, improving industrial energy efficiency, decarbonization of the energy sector, and advancing electric mobility. The Ministers agreed that expanding cooperation in these areas would be vital for meeting global energy goals, as well as ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience in the energy sector.
One of the major outcomes of the dialogue was the launch of Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power and Renewable Energy in India (ASPIRE) programme. This phase aims to provide crucial technical support to enhance energy systems in India, focusing on ensuring round-the-clock power supply across the country, boosting renewable energy projects, and improving industrial energy efficiency. The programme will also work towards the decarbonization of industries, which is key to India’s climate commitments.
Minister Manohar Lal noted that Phase-2 of the ASPIRE programme would play a crucial role in India’s ambitious renewable energy transition. The initiative will also help create new jobs and enhance the country’s energy infrastructure, further advancing its energy security and economic growth objectives.
In addition, both sides discussed ways to explore new opportunities in emerging energy fields, such as hydrogen energy, battery storage, and smart grids. These areas are seen as critical to enabling a low-carbon economy, and the Ministers expressed a strong commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in research, development, and deployment of innovative energy technologies.
The dialogue reinforced the shared commitment of India and the UK to addressing global energy challenges, enhancing energy security, and fostering a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for both nations.
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