NTPC India Makes Initiatives to Install Renewable Energy Projects in Maldives

NTPC, the government owned power company of India, is engaged in talks with the Maldivian government to set up renewable energy projects in Male, the capital city of the country. The company has plans to conduct feasibility studies to understand the power generation potential of the country before initiating the projects.

The Indian government considers Maldives, which lay south-west of India, as an important country to maintain the security of the country. Maldives has a population of around 320,000, living all over the 1,192 coral islands of the country.

NTPC occupies the 317th ranking the in the Forbes Global 2000 companies list and generates 33,194 MW power every year. The company has plans to double its power generation to achieve 75,000 MW by 2017. Recently, the company has unveiled its plans to produce 35,840 MW by utilizing non-fossil fuel sources and achieve 70% of its total power generation from renewable energy sources by the year 2032. The company presently produces most of its power utilizing coal. The company has plans to install 1,000 MW power generation capabilities by 2017 from renewable energy sources such as geothermal, wind, solar and small hydro power generation plants.

Earlier NTPC had constructed a 500 MW power project in Sri Lanka and the project was delayed by four years due to variances in financial agreements and internal squabble of the country. Its unsuccessful attempts in overseas countries include securing of coal mines in Africa and gas supply positions in Yemen and Nigeria.

Source: http://www.azocleantech.com

Energy Minister welcomes first gas-powered car in Maldives

The Minister of Environment, Energy and Water Ahmed Abdulla has welcomed the fact that Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was being used to power a taxi for the first time in Maldives.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry, the Minister had met with the owner of the taxi, Gasim Latheef, and the people who had converted the taxi’s engine to be able to use gas, Ahmed Naeem and Mumin Areef of Auto Gas. At the meeting the Minister had said that their work had opened the doors towards producing environment friendly energy and reducing fossil fuel consumption.

The statement said that the Minister had said that the fact that private parties were interested in such endeavors was a very positive and important contribution and promised that the Government would offer whatever aid was needed to develop such actions. The Minister said that Naeem and Areef’s work was of historical significance and would be very beneficial to the Maldives, according to the statement.

The Energy Ministry’s statement also said that they were researching ways to increase the use of gas-powered vehicles and regulate its use.

“The number of gas-fuelled vehicles is increasing all over the world,” the statement said. “This will also have the additional benefits of lowering the cost of oil and bring air-pollution by exhaust fumes to a complete stop. Countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and even other developed countries are now using gas to power their vehicles.”

The Ministry also said that boats and other such sea-going vessels can use LPG.

Source: haveeru.com.mv

PM Vows to Adopt a Responsible and Forward Looking Stance for Sustainable Development at DSDS 2008 Inaugural Ceremony

At the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2008, an annual event organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Hon’ able Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, said, “Government of India will adopt a responsible and forward looking stance aimed at promoting sustainable development.” Delivering his inaugural address at the Summit here today, the Prime Minister said that the impact of climate change falls differently on people and the poor are the worst hit. We need technology innovations for reduction of energy use by industry and other user sectors, he added. He further said we need massive action for afforestation, drought proofing, flood protection and the need to protect our coastal areas and glaciers that feed our river systems.

Dr. Singh emphasized the need to ensure an acceptable standard of living for all our people following sustainable path for that development. Climate justice must, therefore, inform all efforts at international collaboration in act of human solidarity, he added.

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, his counterparts from Denmark Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of Norway and the presidents of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson and Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom were present at the summit.

Focusing on the theme “Climate Change and Sustainable Development” Dr RK Pachauri, Director General TERI, said that the world has seen a major enhancement of awareness related to climate change which has reached an all time high, resulting largely from the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC. It is a result of this awareness that the recent Conference of the Parties concluded on December 15 in Bali has resulted in a firm plan of action at the global level. DSDS 2008 will not only address the various dimensions of climate change and sustainable development but also focus on actions that are required to be taken globally as well as in India.

Agreeing to Dr Pachauri’s remarks, Norway Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said "The world has to address mitigation in such a way that we do not have to choose between development and environment. We have to have both. We have to create mechanisms for the rich world to transfer technology and financial resources to help mitigation in the developing world otherwise there will not be big enough advances," he said added.

President Gayoom of Maldives was awarded TERI's Sustainable Development Leadership award for 2008 for his pioneering work on alerting the world to climate change. He dedicated the award to the people of Maldives, an island community which was among those most in danger from climate change impacts like rising sea levels, he said.

The Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) has now evolved as a major annual event globally which addresses the key challenges of sustainable development and means by which this can be attained.

Source: businesswireindia.com