Energy security in India in present time

Introduction:

India's share of energy consumption stands at 3.5% of the world's global energy consumption and is likely to be 10% by 2031. 

The total energy generation was 1048 Billion Units and for the 12th plan period (FY 13-17), the Government of India has targeted capacity addition of 88,537 MW.

Aims:

1. Uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.
2. Long-term energy security deals with timely investments to supply energy in line with economic developments and environmental needs.
3. Short-term energy security focuses on the ability of the energy system to respond promptly to sudden changes in the supply-demand balance.

Challenges for India’s Energy Security:

    Policy Challenges:

      i.         Failure to attract international investment in domestic hydrocarbon exploration e.g. NELP (New Exploration Licensing Policy) failed to attract interest of large international energy corporations.

     ii.         Coal mining in India suffers from delays due to regulatory and environmental clearances.

   iii.         Indo-US nuclear helped fuel domestic power plants and give India access to critical technologies in strategic areas but deal did not lead to India setting up foreign-built reactors.

    Accessibility Challenge:

      i.         The household sector is one of the largest consumers of energy in India. It is responsible for about 45% of the total primary energy use. In rural areas, biomass accounts for 90% of total primary fuel consumption for cooking. This has serious health impacts on the rural people.

     ii.         Presently, 304 million Indians do not have access to electricity and around 500 million Indians are dependent on solid biomass for cooking.

     Infrastructure and skill related challenges:

      i.         Lack of skilled manpower and poorly developed infrastructure for developing conventional and unconventional energy.

     ii.         India lacks transportation infrastructure for making energy accessible e.g. pipelines can be a useful way to boost the total supply of gas in the country. Gas will play a major role in Indian energy mix because it can be used effectively in several demand sectors.

    Economic challenges:

      i.         Coal, oil and natural gas are the most important sources of primary energy in India. Inadequate domestic supplies of these hydrocarbons are forcing the country to increase its import bill.

     ii.         Rising fuel subsidies, rising CAD creates difficult conditions for economy.

    External Challenges:

      i.         India's fragile energy security is under severe pressure from its rising dependence on imported oil, regulatory uncertainty, international monopolies and opaque natural gas pricing policies

     ii.         India seeks to achieve its energy security through multiple partners e.g. Indo-USA nuclear deal, Oil import from Middle East etc. However, in recent times due to conflict among India’s energy partners e.g. USA and Iran; India had to reduce oil import from Iran.

   iii.         In wake of its difficult geographic location in South-Asia, India faces strategic challenge to meet its energy needs.

   iv.         Failure to get onboard all interested parties in IPI (Iran-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline and TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India) gas pipeline for assured supply of natural gas.

Measures to enhance energy security:

    Increasing accessibility to clean energy:

      i.         India has already committed to bring electricity to every household by 2022. An even more ambitious goal would be to provide electricity to all households on 24×7 basis. 

     ii.         To bring clean fuel in rural areas the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana, should be complemented by: Setting up of biomass pelletising units; and distribution of ‘ efficient biomass chullahs’.

    Enhancing efficiency:

      i.         The National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) should conduct a thorough cost benefit analysis of the available energy-efficient technologies and products across all sectors, especially agriculture, housing and transportation.

     ii.         To enhance vehicle fuel efficiency gains, the auto fuel quality should be upgraded to BS VI norms for nation-wide launch in 2020.

    Policy changes:

      i.         Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) intends to minimize government's discretion in decision making, reduce disputes, reduce administrative delays and introduce concept of revenue sharing, freedom of marketing to stimulate growth in the oil and gas sector in India.

     ii.         The tax structure should be rationalized in import and sale of energy on thermal value basis with a view to enhance the competitiveness of the economy.

   iii.         The INDIA ENERGY SECURITY SCENARIOS, 2047(IESS) has been developed as an energy scenario building tool. The guiding ambition of this is to develop energy pathways leading up to the year 2047, comprising of likely energy demand and supply scenarios.

ü  NITI Aayog launched the India Energy Security Scenarios 2047 calculator (IESS 2047), as an open source web based tool.

ü  The tool aims to explore a range of potential future energy scenarios for India, for diverse energy demand and supply sectors leading up to 2047.

ü  It explores India’s possible energy scenarios across energy supply sectors such as solar, wind, bio fuels, oil, gas, coal and nuclear and energy demand sectors such as transport, industry, agriculture, cooking and lighting appliances.

    Infrastructure:

      i.         Augment refining and distribution of oil and gas.India should sustain its export capacity of refined products by setting up new refineries.

     ii.         India has also built its strategic petroleum reserves in order to meet any supply shocks due to any external exigencies like wars, natural disasters etc.

    Promotion of Renewable Energy

      i.         A renewable energy capacity of 100 GW should be achieved by 2019-20 so as to contribute to achievement of 175 GW target by 2022.

     ii.         A large programme should be launched to tap at least 50% of the bio-gas potential in the country by supporting technology and credit support through NABARD by 2020.

Conclusion:

     Major transformations are underway in global energy sector, from growing electrification to the expansion of renewable energy, upheavals in oil production and globalization of natural gas markets. India needs to build its capacity in research and skills building to deal with these transformations in energy sector.  

     India needs to ensure long term planning to ensure universal energy access and meeting its commitment under Paris Agreement to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.

                                            Table: Total Installed Power Generation Capacity (2017)

Source	Utilities Capacity (MW)
Coal	56.25%
Petroleum	29.47%
Natural Gas	6.18%
Hydropower	4.07%
Other Renewable	2.89%

     

                                                                                                                                               Source: BES (India)