refuel-577348_960_720 Courtesy: Pixabay
6 June 2016

Oil@50: India needs to speed up

India needs to act faster to ensure it continues to get energy at an affordable price. The oil price increase to $50 per barrel shows there is a limited window of time to act.

Raichur_Thermal_Power_Station Courtesy: Wikipedia
12 May 2016

India’s energy: three years, three aims

Relatively low fossil fuel prices have created a favourable climate for the Modi government to secure India’s growing energy needs in a sustainable manner and at fair prices. The government should also encourage locally-built wind and nuclear options to secure India’s long-term needs.

West_Texas_Pumpjack Courtesy: Wikipedia
13 April 2016

North America: petro state

The U.S. and Canada offer an opportunity for India to acquire large scale oil and gas fields in politically stable countries at a low price. A financial investment in energy companies will protect India against a rise in energy prices without raising concerns in host countries.

washington-2010 Courtesy: Whitehouse.gov
29 March 2016

Developing global nuclear security

Once the fourth and final global Nuclear Security Summit is held this week in Washington, D.C., the challenge will primarily be for bureaucrats to continue working and keep leaders engaged on nuclear security. Inertia on this issue, especially when there is growing intelligence on security breaches, could be deadly.

India_fields_and_wind_turbines Courtesy: Wikipedia
23 March 2016

Move over solar; welcome, wind

After the recent WTO ruling against India on the issue of local content of solar panels, India must revise its renewable energy strategy in favour of wind power. Instead of imported solar panels, India’s renewable capacities can use locally-manufactured windmills.

2903370723_e804987949_o Courtesy: Wikipedia
3 March 2016

WTO solar ruling: victim to victor

The WTO judgment on the India-U.S. dispute on solar panels shows how rules across different international regimes – climate change, trade and nuclear power – favor the countries which set those rules. India must deepen its participation in such multilateral fora to protect its interests.

Oil_pump_Bashneft Courtesy: Wikimedia
3 March 2016

Saudi-Russia oil production cap – can it work?

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other oil producers are trying to cap oil production to support prices. Such distortions are unlikely to work. India should be more concerned about the long term rise in oil prices due to falling investment in exploration and production – and should protect itself by acquiring oil and gas assets to cover its energy needs.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Courtesy: Wikimedia
17 February 2016

India’s nuclear liability: unchanged

India’s recent ratification of the nuclear liability convention is being portrayed as a dilution of India’s stand on civil nuclear liability and its own 2010 law on the subject. This is, however, incorrect, and India’s stand on nuclear liability remains unchanged.

Petrol_Station Courtesy: Wikipedia
28 January 2016

Petrol prices back to 2003 level?

The common Indian complaint is that, despite a global trend of falling crude oil prices, the price of petrol has not reduced. However, if the dollar price is examined with the price of oil, it becomes clear that Indians are paying less for fuel now than they would have, had the 2003 pricing trend continued.