What are the current challenges faced by India in terms of energy security?

While India has significant reserves of coal, it is relatively poor in oil and gas resources. Its oil reserves amount to 5.9 billion barrels, (0.5% of global reserves) with total proven, probable, and possible reserves of close to 11 billion barrels. The majority of India's oil reserves are located in fields offshore Bombay and onshore in Assam. Due to stagnating domestic crude production, India imports approximately 70% of its oil, much of it from the Middle East. Its dependence is growing rapidly. Concerned about its growing reliance on oil from the Persian Gulf - 65% of its energy is imported from the region - India is following in the footsteps of other major oil importing economies, and seeking oil outside the Gulf.

Hi Shikha,

I agree with data presented by you. Yes our dependence on oil import is getting increased day by day and by 2020 it will reach to 91%. To control this I think we should look from Supply and Demand side.

For increasing the supply, we should encourage the initiatives like NELP [New Exploration Energy Policy] and should try to find out the oils at various parts of countries. This will definately help in some or other ways.

However there are many things which can be done to control the Demand side. Some of the initiative can be taken to control the demand of the fuel are as given below

1. Good and optimal network of the road, as the current conditions of road is leading to traffic jams and lower fuel efficiency. The classical example is Mumbai-Pune Express Highway. With this highway the distance between Mumbai and Pune has got reduced by around 30 kms with relatively low ghat sections. If we see the saving in terms of the fuel from this new highway then it is huge.

2. Alternative mode for transportation of goods. I think currently Railways is the answer for that. The goods trains should have time table like passenger trains with time bound delivery schedule. This is not a new thought but we have not implemented due to some or other reasons.

3. Movement through sea / river route. The sea route is possible at this point of time but the river route can be adopted when we complete the canalization of the rivers [long pending issue]. This will again save lot of fuel.

4. Encourage energy efficient technologies and alternative fuels.

So there is nothing to worry about the current scenario but needs to be tackle with long term dedicated policies. I always feel that

EVERY PROBLEM HAS A SOLUTION. ONE HAS TO IDENTIFY THE SAME AND IMPLEMENT.

Regards

Praveen varma

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