NEW DELHI, Oct 9:
The Government today said renewable energy could meet energy requirements in rural areas and supplement urban energy needs.
Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah, while speaking at the ‘International Seminar on Energy Access’ here, described energy access as an “issue of overarching importance” which was closely related to poverty, development, gender disparity, environment, health and sustainability.”
He said more than three billion people in developing countries today relied on traditional biomass for cooking and heating and about one and a half billion people were without electricity.
The provision of basic energy services to these energy-poor citizens was the key challenge the world was facing today, he said, adding that lack of access to energy crippled the productive capacity of people and trapped them in a downward spiral of want, deprivation and poverty.
“Energy access is crucial to inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” he said and added that renewable energy could be an excellent tool in providing energy access.
With over 400 million citizens who lack access to modern forms of energy, India had one of the largest decentralized, off-grid renewable energy programmes in the world.
Dr Abdullah said India’s local renewable energy based initiatives had already started making a profound impact on the lives of millions in India.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has designated 2012 as the ‘International Year of Sustainable Energy for All’ and the two-day seminar is organised in recognition of the importance of energy access for sustainable economic development and supporting achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
About 30 countries are participating in the two-day Conference.
Twenty six Ministers include the Prime Minister of Guyana and Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius.
Ministerial delegations attending the Conference include those from Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cape Verde, Congo, Fiji, Georgia, Guatemala, Guyana, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Seychelles, South Africa, Suriname, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Yamen and Zambia. (UNI)
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