Deccan Herald(27-06-2006)
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jun272006/national173892006626.asp
Energy: Kalam sets a 25-year deadline
New Delhi: Emphasising on a national target to achieve energy security within
25 years, President A P J Abdul Kalam on Monday called for an intense research
on renewable energy, bio-diesel and nuclear power to realise the goal.
“The country must aim to produce 60 million tonnes of bio-diesel by 2030
as a step towards energy independence in the transportation sector,” the
president said, giving away corporate social responsibility awards instituted
by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to eight industrial units.
The first target would be to produce six million tonnes of bio-diesel by
2010 which would be five per cent of the present oil import, he said, adding
that if necessary, specialised outfits should be created at the Centre and
state levels.
He also acknowledged the problems in the sector. The seed productivity and
extraction techniques have to improve. The area under bio-diesel cultivation
should also expand.
Interestingly, the president had recently backed a conference on bio-diesel
in Hyderabad, which took place in the Rashtrapati Nilayam.
Renewable sources like solar energy or electricity from municipal waste should
also be encouraged. While more active research was required in solar photovoltaic,
industry support would be essential in creating more waste-to-electricity
plants, he said. Presently, two 6.5-MW electricity plants are operational
in Hyderabad and Vijayawada.
In nuclear power technology, it is essential to pursue the development of
nuclear power using thorium as fuel, as thorium reserves are higher than
uranium.
The president gave away corporate social responsibility awards to eight industrial
units, including the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd in Andhra Pradesh,
which were chosen from 152 corporates. Other winners are Northern Coalfields
Ltd, Madras Aluminium Company Ltd, Mecpro Heavy Engineering Ltd, Usha Martin
Ltd, Hindustan Lever Ltd, Solaris Chemtech Ltd and Sakthi Masala (P) Ltd.