In Focus

Russia on Friday showed big interest in joining a project to build a gas pipeline linking Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, according to Xinhua News.

A study published by a global consultation firm KPMG has forecasted that solar power can meet 5-7 per cent of India’s total power requirements by 2021-22.

India will boost its nuclear energy generating capacity to 50,000-60,000 Mw by 2030 and plans to import light water reactors from Russia, US and France, said former Atomic Energy Commission chairman M R Srinivasan.

The question is, can the country live without nuclear power?

Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are planning for significant investment increases in their electricity generation capacity in order to keep pace with the rising demand.

Sahara India Power and Korea East-West Power have entered into a pact for developing power plants, with a total capacity of 6,000 MW.

The ADB is extending a $300 million loan to Bangladesh to fund five aging generation units at Ashuganj power station with a new energy-efficient combined cycle power plant using natural gas as the fuel source.

Japan will set up a new nuclear regulatory agency under the Environment Ministry instead of the trade ministry.   This is meant to increase the body's independence after the country’s atomic disaster, officials said. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the Cabinet was expected to approve the plan by Monday. The current Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has been widely criticised for cosy ties with the nuclear industry under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which promotes nuclear energy. “We expect to make the agency an affiliate of the Environment Agency,” Edano said. “Environment and nuclear issues have a certain affinity for each other.” Under the plan, drafted by Goshi Hosono, minister in charge of the nuclear crisis, NISA would be integrated with the Nuclear Safety Commission, an independent panel of experts under the Cabinet Office, to become a more independent entity distanced from the nuclear industry and other promoters of atomic power.

Saigon Asset Management Corp. plans to raise $300 million for an energy fund that would be the country’s largest.

Indian nuclear plants will be able to withstand “extreme natural events” like tsunamis, cyclones, floods and dam breaks, according to a nuclear safety review.

India's state-run NHPC would invest around Rs 15,000 crore for developing two hydropower projects in the neighbouring country Myanmar.

South Korea can now export atomic power plants to India after an agreement was reached by the two countries.

A United States Congressional report said that India could soon join a select group of countries in exporting nuclear reactors.

National Thermal Power Corporation would provide 14.32 MW to 118 villages located within a radius of five km from its two power stations- the 3000 Mw NTPC Kaniha and the Talcher Thermal Power Station. While the Kaniha plant would offer 4.55 MW, the Talcher station would provide 9.77 MW under a Central government scheme which will benefit about 1.4 lakh people belonging to 28458 families in 118 villages of the state. The scheme will cover five blocks in Angul district-Kaniha, Talcher, Orapada, Barjang and Banarpali. An agreement was signed between G Mathivathanan, state energy secretary, R Venkateswaran, regional executive director, NTPC and B C Jena, chairman cum chief executive officer of Cesu in the presence of state energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak. “The tripartite agreement signed by the state government with Cesu and NTPC will benefit about 1.4 lakh people in 118 villages including 5068 Below Poverty Line families around TTPS and 3318 BPL families around NTPC Kaniha. Under this project, two new 33 KV substations will be set up and 230 new Phase-III distribution transformers will be laid”, the minister said.

China is now the world leader in renewable energy investment according to the "Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011."

The World Bank will provide a US$ 648 million loan to THDC India for constructing the Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Plant on the Alaknanda river.