Bio -diesel -India

While ethanol blending happened between now started now and resumed the bio-diesel blending never take off. The government focused on usage indigenous feed stock  such as Jatropha. Companies like RIL,Indian oil  ,Ruchi among others have acquired huge tracks of oil  for Jatropha  plantations which will yield crops in the next in the next two years but market yet to be developed. Moreover the national bio-diesel mission under which investments are being made for cultivation and research of Jatropha,has been dropped.

“The government has not come up with an effective policy on pricing. We cannot produce and sell RS 26.50 a litre since cost of palm acid  oil is high .” said Aklesh Saraf director Ruchi  bio-fuel. Ruchi Soya has a total 10,000 litres bio-diesel capacity  in Kakinada and produced some quantities of bio-diesel in 2008& 2009.With  cost of palm acid oil moving RS 25 to RS 40 ,the company says producing bio-diesel is not feasible. West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh  also imposed VAT on bio-diesel equaling that of diesel.

Calcutta based Emani group which has invested 150 crores in setting up a 1,00.000 ton bio-diesel unit at Haldia  started supplying bio-diesel to Calcutta Tramways early last year , however  petroleum ministry sent a circular to West Bengal  government should ensure that the using un authorized sale and possession of bio-diesel   to be stopped.

Unless government takes positive steps in respect pricing and marketing freedom the program cannot be successful

Emani bio-tech   director for S.K. Monda Chaturvedi says government should allow direct sale of bio-diesel to industrial consumers so that market is developed and existing capacities utilized. Retail sale should be done through oil marketing companies but since it now happening. The government should allow product like bio-diesel ,which has a high flash point and is safe to store and handle Chaturvedi said.

To set up bio-diesel plant should have your own Jatropha  plantations. 200 hectares land required to set up 1000 liters per day plant. Most of Jatropha oil is currently produced in India is used as a bio-kerosene and is used for lighting lamps and for stoves. It also used as a fuel additive and manufacture of bio-diesel.

There are large plants set up a capacity 3,00,000 litres per day  and medium sized plants with a capacity 30,000 litres per day in addition number of small plants. Practically all plants are running very low capacity due to lack of Jatropha oil. Logistics of seed collection is challenging. You  get seeds in once in a year. These will have to be stored thought the year.  This requires huge capacity of land and working capital which beyond capacity of small plants.

India -bio diesel policy finally announced on 23rd December 2009. Some points to be noted about government policy.

.. Plantations of Jatropha tree bearing non-edible oil by community cultivated in waste lands and forest lands and non forest land. Contract forming on private waste lands can be taken up through maximum support price mechanism. Plantations on agriculture land will be discouraged.

..Major  instrument of this policy is minimum support price (MSP)with periodical revision so as to ensure fair price to farmers. The details of MSP mechanism will be worked out carefully after consultations with government agencies and states.

--Employment provided in plantations of trees and shrubs  bearing non-edible oil seeds eligible to coverage under national rural employment guarantee program (NREGP).

..Minimum purchase price (MPP) for bio-diesel by oil marketing companies (OMC) will be linked to prevailing retail diesel price.

.. Financial incentives, including   subsidies and growth may be considered upon merit for new and second generation feed stocks, advanced technologies and conversion process, and production united based on new
And second generation  feed stocks.

… Bio-ethanol already enjoys concessional  excise duty 16 per cent and bio-diesel exempted from excise duty. No other central taxes are proposed to be levied on bio-diesel and bio-ethanol.

--- Import of free fatty acids (FFA) oil will not be permitted for production of bio-fuel.

India bio-diesel capacity estimated 6,00,000 tonnes  per year . Government likely fix a price of RS 34 per litre for purchase of bio-diesel (OMC) .

Bio diesel in India Failed take up  following reasons

Non -availability of oil : in India edible are short supply and country has to import 40 per cent requirement . Hence prices of edible oil higher than that of petroleum  diesel.  Due this edible oil are not viable and hence cheapest source is   non edible oil.

Indian culture use vegetable oil for lamps for lighting the homes and temples. When price vegetable oil shot up people turned a bit cheaper non-edible oil. This requirement of this sector is more than 15 million tonnes (bio-kerosene).

All over the world edible oil are used edible are used manufacture of bio-diesel. There are rapeseed in Europe ,Soya in America and palm in south east Asia.

Collection of non-edible oil seeds is manual lab our operation and large bio-diesel  plant it is a logistic night mare. Manpower is a challenging job for Jatropha seed collection. The price of seeds of Jatropha is currently  high because of most of it used for plantations purposes. As this price the cost of bio-diesel  3 times the pump petroleum diesel. Most edible oil used currently stable ( don’t get rancid). They don’t decompose much on storage. Hence these are preferred for transesterification   process. Non edible oil are not stable and need a pretreatment adding to cost of manufacture of bio-diesel .

The use of oil for lamps and cottage washing industry can use vegetable oils with high fuel fatty acid contents. Since price edible oil doubled many soap manufacturers in un organized sector are using these oil as these are cheaper. 

There are billion of other trees (Karanj  Mahua, neem )  all over India with oil bearing seeds . Traditionally  (Pongamia, Pinatta) is planted with high ways, railways and canals. Petroleum pump owner along with high ways should buy these oil pack in one litre pack sell them as fuel additive. Neem (Azardirachta Indicia ) is planted every where for purification of air. Mahua( Madhuca indica ) and sol  ( Shorea Robusta ) grow s widely in forests. Collection and processing mechanism for these seeds not yet developed. 

Government approved  policy on bio-fuel on 11th September  2008.The union  Cabinet in its meeting gave approval for national policy on bio-fuel prepared by New renewable energy. A proposal on national policy on bio-fuel and its implementation was prepared after wide consultations and inter ministerial deliberations.

The following are  important points to be noted.

1. Target 20 per cent of bio-fuels blending of bio-ethanol and bio-diesel   by 2017 .
2.Bio-fuel production to be taken up from non-edible seed waste produced from waste lands.
3. Focus would be on indigenous production of bio-diesel feed stock and import of free fatty  acid (FFA) based such oil palm etc would not be permitted.
4.Bio- diesel plantations on community , government / forest waste lands would encouraged while plantation on fertile irrigation lands would not be encouraged.
5.Minimum support price (MSP) with provision of periodic revision bio-diesel oil seeds could be announced to provide fair price to growers. The detail about MSP mechanism enshrined in national bio-fuel policy would be worked out carefully subsequently and  considered by bio-fuel steering committee.
6.Minimum purchase price (MPP) for purchase of bio-ethanol by OMCs would be based  actual cost of production and import price of  bio-ethanol and in-case of bio-diesel MPP should be linked prevailing retail diesel price.

The national bio-fuel policy envisages bio-fuel namely bio-diesel and bio-ethanol may be brought under ambit of “declared goods’ by government to ensure unrestricted movement of bio-fuel within outside states. It stated in the policy that no taxes and duties should be levied on bio-diesel.

OMCs has declared their own bio-diesel policy. They now are planning to offer RS 34 per litre which still less than current manufacture cost of bio-diesel.

Government has large tracks of waste land and forest land which can be offered for plantations of Jatropha.  Some states like Chhattisgarh there are lands already lease  out to Indian oil corporation.

UttarPradesh  Jatropha mission of U.P. was in joint venture of BPCL, Nandan Biometrics  and Shapoorji Pallanje  was supported by UttarPradesh .UttarPradesh has lot of saline waste lands in eastern U.P. are suitable for Jatropha plantations.

At present use of Jatropha/Pongamia oil is extracted by expeller being marketed  as fuel additive and saves 2 to 5 per cent when added petroleum fuel and also improvement the lubrication of engine and improve pick of engine.

Bio-diesel reduces  co2 emission  from atmosphere if government support fast growing business Jatropha ,castor or barren  and desert land which can  fix up 3 tons carbon dioxide per acre per year .

Following points are suggested for promotion of bio-diesel

-- Local state governments remove sales tax or reduce sales tax and encourage the bio-diesel industry.
--Bio -diesel manufacturers should be allowed to sell bio-diesel  directly to industrial consumers and while OMC to sell bio-diesel in retail.
-- A formula to be worked out such that bio-diesel price should sold little higher above petroleum diesel and government should reimburse addition burden to oil marketing companies since bio-diesel is fuel additive and it saves  economically for user by consuming less oil for same distance.
-- government should liberally issue bank loans for setting up bio-diesel plants with subsidies for encouraging bio-diesel industry.
--Government should review policy on bio-diesel once six months and implementing new schemes regularly in consultation with New Renewable energy department and oil marketing companies and bio-diesel manufacturers till consumers to attract bio-diesel on regular use as bio-fuel are environmentally friendly fuels.

indo -french nuclear deal

Indo -French nuclear deal

India  France may sign deal nuclear energy  also for promoting renewable energy.

NPCIL ,Areva   close to completing the earlier works contract for Jaitapur  nuclear project sign the agreement to promote nuclear energy and also promote investment and technology transfer in renewable energy segment Business standard reported.

France will encourage investments in renewable energy by French companies, while promoting sharing of technology with NPCIL (nuclear power corpora ration of India ) contract for supply of two nuclear reactors of 1650 M.W. each.

The proposal expected to be signed during French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to India during December 3rd -7th .

Official of commerce ministry and indo -French  chamber and industry information the French government  has set a target raising installed capacity India for wind power from present 810 M.W. in 2006 to 25000 M.W. by 2020 and also planning to increase installed capacity photo voltaic solar power from 32.7 M.W. in 2006 to 3000 M.W. by 2020.

French companies can play important role India energy sector a major role while India proposed to increase capacities in solar power and wind power against India total power installed capacity 1,48,000 M.W. out of this India contributing renewable energy only 16,000 M.W. The proposed agreement  would  be  similar to pact between  India -US  that aimed to promote investment and technology sharing in renewable energy.

Mean while environmental approval is given by ministry of environment for Jaitapur nuclear project.

NPCIL and  Areva were in final stages of early works contract for Jaitapur project, it could be signed any time during French president visit. The early contract is essential to start  the implementation of 10,000 M.W. nuclear power project at Jaitapur in Maharashtra NPCIL will subsequently enter into other technology enter technology contract and starting construction by 2011.

According to confederation of India industry (CII) sources the French president will hold an interactive session with business consultants on 7th December. Discussions are expected to resolve around increasing the trade and investment in civil ,nuclear ,infrastructure manufacturing and engineering ,auto , telecom and aviation sectors said a source.

A  meeting is being convened on the   30th November  to finalize the French president  program in Mumbai. It will be attended by French ambassdor,the consulate, the Maharashtra government, police and chamber of commerce.

Mean while  the union ministry of environment and forests (MOEF ) has given  an environmental clearance to controversial Jaitapur   nuclear power project stated to come up in Mad ban village Ratnagiri  district along the  Konkan coast.

The project has elicited a huge out cry with mass protects by local fisherman and environmentalists who fear that it will destroy rich marine  bio-diversity  of Konkan belt but also destroy the livelihood of local population.

Incidentally the environmental clearance  for Jaithapur project was given  in just 80 days from time the final environmental  impact assessment (EIA) report was submitted by NPCIL.

Stressing the need for cleaner  technology Ramesh said nuclear energy was  a cleaner option compared to coal.

“ from environment point of view, nuclear projects is land intensive and greener Today  38 percent  India’s  green house gas emission come from the electricity generation sector. If we wish to maintain G.D.P. growth rate 9 per cent every year then our power sector needs to grow at 7 per cent. “ Ramesh said.

Elaborating on conditions laid for Jaitapur project ,Ramesh said that  a special plan to mitigate on adverse impact on fisher folk community will have to be implemented.

bio-divesity

biodiversity

Bio -technology reliance

The  fast  decade bio technological advances in medicine human insulin ,brine and human growth   harmones,interferon have raised expectations that bio-tech vaccines and drugs will soon be developed to fight malaria ,yellow and typhoid feveres,hepatitis, leprosy ,schistosomiasis, herpes and dysentery. Gain  are also expected in agriculture such as more diseases resistant food strains and crops with their own natural pesticides. Non of these possible without bio-diversity .

As bio-technologies emerge from laboratory there is growing need for bio-safety. Genetically  engineered organism could act as “ alien invades “  destroying   their environments unless production and release are strictly  controlled . As so by breeding higher yields, scientists narrow genetic base food crops, often scarifying pest and disease resistance process. Half the Canadian prairies are planted with just one variety of wheat , and entire soybean  industry of U.S. is based on six plants with origin in one Asia region.

Two thirds of all existing species are found in developing countries, but it is private corporations in the industrial nations which the bio-technical tools to exploit these genetic resources. Already  there is fierce  competition among companies in Europe,U.S.and Japan for this bi-technology  industry. Profits will go  to those holding patents and  governments that make these  patents possible.

What biodiversity ?

Bio -diversity is variability  among living organisms from all sources ,including  terrestrial ,marine and other  aquatic eco-systems and ecological complexes of which they are part, this includes bio-diversity within species between  species and of eco-system.

Bio -diversity is variety world organisms, including their genetic make up and communities they form. Bio -diversity is dynamic the genetic composition of species changes overtime in  response to natural and human induced selection pressures ,the occurrence and relative abundance  of species in ecological communities as  a result of ecological and physical factors.

The total number on species on earth estimated at between  13 and 14 million of which only 1.85 million have been described. Groups  of inter breeding individual within species from distinct population. Groups such as plants,birds,mammals,fishes,reptiles  and amphibians.

The species with which we are most familiar account for only 3 percent of estimated total, while majority of species belong to groups such as insects,arachnides ,fungi,mematodes and micro organisms.

Individuals of species provide basis for genetic differences between the species. Molecular studies have revealed a wealth of genetic variability in the most species.

The global bio-diversity  assessment (GBA) is an independent  critical-peer reviewed scientific analysis of current issues, theories and views regarding main aspects of bio-diversity. It provides an analysis of wide range of bio-logical and social science issues related to bio-diversity.

The  world conservation monitoring centre(WCMC0 has published a list of what lives where, and  of those places with richest biological diversity. This information is vital for conservation of world’s  future bio-diversity.

The nations of the world are currently discussing with drafting of conservation on earth’s bio-logical diversity. The convention aims to conserve innumerable  species of plants, and animals  which have evolved over million of years, and their biological pattern.

United nation declared 2010 as international year of bio-diversity.

Business and industry

A wide  range  of individual material derived directly from biological resources including building materials ,fibers, dyes ,rubber and oil. Bio- diversity is also important to the security of resources such as water quality,timber,paper fiber food and medicinal resources.

Human and health

Bio-diversity -relevance to human health is becoming an international political issue as scientific evidence build global health implications of bio-diversity loss. The issue closely linked with issue of climate change, as may as anticipated health risks of climate change are associated with changes in bio-diversity, including distribution of diseases ,scarcity of water, impact on crop failure. Some of health issues influenced by bio-diversity include dietary health and nutrition security  infectious diseases, medical science  and medicinal resources, social psychologically health. Bio-diversity is also known to have an important role in reducing risk, and post disaster relief and recovery effect.

Prevailing scientific opinion to that the next few decades will be a period of maximum danger for species and ecosystems around world. It has been predicted that at least 10 and possibly 40 per cent of world species are likely to be extinct within 50 years although there is significant uncertainty in the calculations on which estimates based. By acting now, the world community  can help to minimize the eventual scale of species loss, by taking action. 

Genetic erosion the decline and extinction  of species and degradation of eco-system will reduce the ability of bio-diversity  to support national development and sustain future human well being at global levels. The well being of current the future generations of people in all countries would therefore best be served if these processes were kept to minimum level in next two decades.

Nitish -Bihar ray of hope

Nitish -Bihar ray of hope

Bihar out come of election is welcome relief. The  Bihar  verdict is extra ordinary for various reasons. It is defeat to caste based politics in Bihar.

Lalu Prasad yadav’s RJD party considerable once unbeatable, in the just concluded elections RJD while winning  only 22 seats out of 168 contested and Lulu’s  wife lost both seats she contested.

Nitish stress on roads and while improving law order and clean image helped to return  with massive major in the just concluded elections in Bihar one of the poorest state in the India. Congress contested 243 assembly seats and won only 4 seats. The Janata Dal ( united) Nitish  party -BJP  combined won 206 assembly seats out of 243 seats contested.

Nitish 59 years old leader an OBC arrived on national arena as a future  leader with  massive attraction from Bihar is. Nitish did not transform Bihar  he gave a ray of hope. Nitish kept his election promises of building roads, bridges and culverts to make people travel easily one place to other place. Nitish developed school education in Bihar with massive recruit of school teachers while school going girls are given uniforms and bi-cycles

Nitish as a chief minister improved the law and order in the state. The current consensus in Bihar is for social peace and economic development.

Its BJP good election strategy to align with Nitish  and not forcing Narendra Modi to canvas for election gained them Muslim hearts and transform them into votes. Nitish policy  on school education benefited rise in enrolment figures in school, women are major beneficiaries who presumably voted for Nitish -BJP combine.

Nitish important task will be develop infrastructure, like roads ,power generation and communication to industrialize Bihar  for employment  generation  to educated youth. Agriculture reforms are necessary to improve yields and improve more productive employment.

Nitish  Bihar needs new attractive industrial policy, mining policy while improving facilities to higher education for overall development of state and for employment growth thereby Nitish  can reduce migration people other states for employment.

Nitish taking crimes in Bihar reaped rich dividends in urban Bihar and women who are biggest supporters. 

Now Nitish government  Bihar should look  complete transformation  of state economically and should look for better growth opportunities state  In India for  investors.

Nitish should attract investors from other state  set up industries and develop infrastructure on private partnership basis  in Bihar state while liberalizing government polices  and should make Bihar investor friendly state. 

Next five years is a critical period for Bihar let us hope Nitish   will have turn round   state with best Infrastructure and economically sound state .  

Bihar now better governed one of India’s most populated under developed states will have a positive impact on social economic profiles of country. Bihar voters rewarded Nitish for his strong economic growth. 

Congratulations  to chief minister of Bihar  to Nitish Kumar.

nuclear energy -india

Nuclear energy -India

India traveled long way since Dr. Bhabha along with half scientists laid foundation for development of  nuclear energy for peaceful energy needs.

Indian efforts took the country to day stands at the top among nuclear development  countries.

India consciously choose peaceful path of nuclear energy development aimed at technology development. The strategy of our program-me  was based on development of scientists and engineer R&D institutions which grew gradually with development of indigenous know-how in various fields.

While resorting to imports of technology we did so on a selective basis channelized    through R&D base. We took care not only to fully assimilate this technology but to adopt it own conditions and requirement and further diversify and improve open it without resorting  to repeated imports of technology.

In formulating the strategy for nuclear development we take into account that which our uranium reserves are rather limited and our thorium amongst the largest in India.

We continue with development of natural uranium-fuel reactors not only because of our preference for reactor system which can be operated on indigenous resource and technology because the uranium utilization  is more efficient and large quantity of plutonium can be produced in such reactors.

We cannot say any more that India does not have enrichment technology. India has its own technology we can produce enriched uranium. We have not started doing large scale commercially. We require a much large quantities of enriched uranium.

The signing of convention of supplementary compensation for nuclear damage (CSC) by India wrapped the last of its commitment arising from nuclear partnership with U.S. Last few years have been spent in mostly sorting out the legal formalities and procedure issues governing this partnership.

The inking of CSC broadly set all ball rolling for U.S.  reactor vendors to commence actual engagement in India. Now nuclear power corporation of India limited (NPCIL) to commence detailed commercial negotiations with General Electric and Westing House for supply two 1000 M.W. reactors.

Though the liability law was passed last month the American reactor vendors  had  objected section 17 (b) and 46 of civil liability for nuclear damage act,2010 which permit legal action against nuclear supplies if an accident is caused by party or defective equipment.

Today nuclear power plants run once through fuel cycle uranium is mined from earth made into fuel, the fuel is used in a nuclear reactors to make clean electricity, and used fuel is then stored on the site for eventual move to final disposal in geologic respiratory.

Nuclear energy department in India to recycle used fuel so that it can be used as fuel again. The program must advance the state of art of associated with current safety standards reduce long time risk and proliferation of hazard used fuel to maximum extent in practice and ultimately deliver economical electric power to market place.

The program also seeks to reduce the time scale for managing high-level nuclear waste from hundred thousand years.   

India has also done a great amount of work in development of thorium centre fuel cycle. With uranium deposits in the nation are limited ,there are much greater reserves of thorium and it could be provide hundred tons of energy at same mass of fuel. The fact  that thorium can be theoretically be utilized in heavy water reactors has also tied up the development two A type prototype plutonium fuel while irradiating a thorium blanket is under construction Madras Kalpak am atomic power station.
However for the present NPCIL decided to set up light water reactors based on capacity 40,000 M.W. by 2020.

Atomic energy department develop and manage a system for waste  acceptance and transportation and dispose of spent nuclear fuel  from commercial reactors and high level radio active waste from national defense activities. The department is fully committed ensuring that long term storage obligation for nuclear wastes or met.

Department energy is should meet challenge by establishing clean fuel initiatives to make most traditional fossil fuel while investing sustainable sources such as fusion employing hydrogen  which can produce  from diverse domestic sources greatly reduce our dependence on imported oil.

Nuclear future is conducting a comprehensive review policies for managing the back end of nuclear fuel cycle, and will provide recommendation for developing a safe long term solution to managing the nation used fuel and nuclear waste.

Projects that are under consideration /implementation in India.

.. Toshiba-Westing house AP 1000 series reactors.
.. GE-Hitachi ABWR reactor series.
.. Areva-1650 M.W. e  European pressurized  reactors
.. Russia --- WER reactors

These are projected to be deployed at five earmarked coastal sites under proposal.

France has also begun the process of setting up its maiden project at Jaitapur site   in Maharashtra.

Under recent indo -U.S. agreement India and U.S. signed to co-operate in nuclear energy program.

NPCIL should aggressively  develop new sources of nuclear  energy globally  where country like India need energy to meet development overall view .

Nuclear energy is clean source of energy without emitting any carbon emissions.

World  scenario all developed countries as well as developing countries are moving ahead and promoting nuclear energy for urgent energy needs.

It is imperative that the next decade nuclear energy plays important role in global energy needs and most countries searching  clean nuclear energy sources for their vital country energy development needs . 

climate change an advantage to Andhra pradesh

Climate change - Andhra Pradesh

After a series of natural calamities that wreaked havoc on the coastal Andhra Pradesh  in the last two years, a major study concluded that Andhra Pradesh  will be a major beneficiary of climate change that will take place in the country in next 20 years.

Commissioned by union environmental and forest ministry, a study titled climate change and India a 4x4 assessment- A-Sector  and regional analysis for 2030 was conducted by Indian net work of climate change assessment which  comprised 120 institutions and over 220 scientists  and report released by ministry recently.

The study focused on four climate sensitive regions of India, namely Himalayan, western Ghats, coastal and north eastern region. The four key sectors  that were taken up were  agriculture,water,natural eco-system and bio-diversity and health. Of these Andhra Pradesh (AP) is slated to be considerably gain in agriculture and health sectors.

As per study, the temperature in 2030 ,in comparison to temperature in 1970 in eastern coastal region will increase by 1.6 degrees Celsius to 2.1 degree Celsius.

By 2030 the number of rainy days in coastal region including A.P. is likely to decrease by 1-5 days while intensity of rain fall is likely to between 1mm to 4 mm for day. With regard to increase in rain fall,eatern coastal region is likely to see an increase of annual rain fall between  0.2 to 4.4 per cent. While study predicted that cyclone disturbances in both coasts will decrease by 2030 it cautioned that they would be more intense.

The warming of climate and increase in precipitation over the next two decades will work to the advantage of Andhra Pradesh by increasing productivity of rice, maize and coconut the major crops of the state coastal region ,the study held. According to the report, the changes in weather are conducive to fertilization in major crops. As per rice yield will increase by 10 per cent thought the coastal region while rise in north Andhra Pradesh  will be less than 5 per cent.

As per as maize crop concerned, the study  predicts that climate change will be adversely affect most 9000 km, long coast of country but benefit most of coastal districts in the state. While changes will lead  to a much higher projected yield loss of irrigated maize between  15 and 50 per cent, yield loss of rain fed-maize will be about 35 per cent.

“In some districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh rain-fed maize yield  are likely to increase to 10 per cent” the study said.

With regard to coconut crop the study predicted a 10 per cent increase in coconut yield in north -coastal Andhra districts, Orissa ,Gujarat Tamilnadu and Karnataka will be adversely  affected by 40 per cent.

For AP an important benefit with regard to climate change is health sector. According to study the rise temperature  over the next decades will become unfavorable for spread of malaria which kills hundreds of people in the state every year. “ southern coastal districts of AP  transmission window for malaria parasites will be only 4-6 months in 2030 in comparison to 7-9 months in the base line scenario of 1970.” the study said, adding that this would mean that the chances getting infected by parasite will be drastically fall in north coastal part which bears the brunt disease every year.

a leader is needed in Andhra pradesh

 A leader needed

Mr.   Rosiah as a chief minister  of Andhra Pradesh is honest and able  administrator but at age of 77 years he is finding difficult to run the state administration because severe problems need to be addressed by senior congress party leaders at Delhi.

As chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Rosiah has no powers either to take his loyalists as a ministers or command on present cabinet ministers. In addition Telangana problem  is creating law and order  problem as Telangana Rashtra  Samiti ( TRS) is agitating one issue or other problem  as routine.

The recent agitation for postponement of written examination for selection of sub-inspector posts ended finally centre intervening and giving instructions to state government postpone the examination  as osmania university students created disturbance in Hyderabad against conducting the conducting examination for selection of sub-inspectors.

Last one year MR. Rosiah patiently running the administration with least powers at his command. Opposition leaders are creating some problem or the other finally Rosiah unable take individual decisions. On the other side Jaganmohn Reddy  son of former late chief minister  Y.S.Rajesekhar Reddy  conducting Odarpu   Yatra  criticizing state government about not implementing his fathers pet programmes and inaction of chief minister in several important issues like Polavaram project.

In addition Telangana congress leaders are supporting  TRS openly even though they are not suppose to do, voluntarily criticizing chief minister expressing their feelings and  agitating for formation of Telangana state formation.

Rosiah wanted to change existing ministers long time back but high congress command informed him differ his decision for the present ,because of Telangana problem and Srikrishna  committee which is about submit a report on 31.12.2010 about  issue of  separate Telangana  state formation or continuance united Andhra Pradesh.

In addition recently ‘Sakshi ’ Telugu news  channel (owned by MR. Jaganmohn Reddy ) criticized both Prime Minister Manmohn  Singh and UPA Chair person MS. Sonia Gandhi mentioning them  are responsible for debacle of ruling congress party. 

As per latest report congress -high command instructed P.C.C. President  and chief minister to  send about Sakshi T.V. utterances about criticizing prime mister and MS.sonia Gandhi. As per latest reports both P.C.C and chief minister sent report explaining T.V. channel out burst.

About  latest report of Times of India paper chief minister Mr. Rosaih decided to meet congress high command at Delhi for giving permission make changes in cabinet since some ministers not supporting him in decision making.

In  addition  due implementation of late former chief minister Mr. Y.S. Rajeshekhar Reddy pet programs like free power, subsidized rice, Jalayagnam projects financial condition state deteriorated and with much difficulty Rosiah maintaining the state financial burden.

In addition chief minister health is not up to the mark. He   cannot work continuously due to his old age.

During  former chief minister Rajesekhar Reddy time, centre  has not encouraged or develop any state leader at centre or state causing lot of vacuum as there is no young talented dynamic leader who can lead the state at present.

At least now congress high command should encourage two or three leaders who are young talented to be appoint at cabinet position central cabinet and at state to recognize them as future leaders .

To solve present situation it is suggested that a better a capable leader  from Telangana may inducted in the state cabinet as deputy chief  minister and let Rosiah may continued as chief minister with less burden. In long time deputy chief minister  may allowed to take all major decisions and encouraged to become chief minister still statehood Telangana decided.

A soft warning necessary for Mr.Jaganmohn Reddy at the same tome he may engaged by giving some post in centre for time being.

There is a turn around in economic performance in state in recent years. For the development of state infrastructure and industries are necessary  and important now for betters growth for employment generation.

Let us wait and see as chief minister is expected to visit Delhi to day to have discussions with central congress high command  including issues like reconstitution  of ministers.

One thing necessary that good dedicated leaders are required in state to run present state and aspirations of people.
 

biomass energy

Bio-mass energy

In early 1990 nearly half Brazil  automotive fuel  were supplied by ethanol  with one third of cars designed to run pure ethanol  and remaining running on gasoline blended  with 20 percent ethanol.

Because of most ethanol produced from crops such as sugar cane and corn ,which are expensive to grow, it cost above three times to as much as gasoline. New technologies are being developed to allow ethanol production from low cost wood. Some researchers predicted that the ethanol produced from in expensive bio-mass sources will cost competetive with petrol.

Initially most methanol will probably be produced from inexpensive sources natural gas or coal. However  methanol produced from fossil fuel will contribute to build up carbon dioxide whereas methane produced from sustainable  bio-mass would not. The use of bio-mass fuel expanded significantly as new technologies reduce production cost.

Bio-mass is renewable. If the amount bio-mass used for fuel does not exceed bio-mass growth. It can provide a sustainable resource that can meet a significant share of global energy needs.

Bio-mass is a cleaner fuel.  When bio-mass is burned in efficient stoves and gas turbine or used liquid fuel, it produces less pollutants than fossil fuel. If used on sustainable basis, the carbon dioxide  released  when bio-mass is burned equally the amount of carbon -dioxide taken up by photo synthesis ,no net addition to atmospheric green  house gases. The pulp and paper industry meets most of its energy need by burning their woods and by products.  Sugar cane pulp ( bagasse) and  rice husk are example of crop residues that are burned at processing facilities to produce electricity ,heat and steam.

Bio-mass resources include concentrated wastes (municipal solids, sewage, wood products, industry waste meant at large log ) dispersed waste residue (crop residue ,logging residues dispersed manufacture ) and harvested bio-mass , bio-mass plantations. Most dry  forms of bio-mass  can be burned  directly to produce heat steam and electricity.

On the other hand, biological conversion technologies utilize natural anaerobic decay process to produce high quality fuel directly from bio-mass methane bacteria fermentation and ethanol from yeast fermentation.

Thermo chemical conversion technologies utilize high temperature and pressure in the absence of oxygen  to produce crude oils and synthesis’ gas from bio-mass. Synthesis  gas  can be converted or up graded to high quality fuel   methane or methanol.

Bio-mass derived directly or indirectly from plant photo synthesis’ a versatile fuel  source capable of providing high quality gases liquid and solid fuel as well as  electricity.

In the tropical Caribbean where sugar is major export  crop but producers faced depressed world market, more efficient  use of plant residues coupled with a switch to already tested fast growing cane verities that produce more bio-mass could significantly use for energy supplies. The amount of electricity available in Barbados, Cuba the Dominican Republic , Guatemala, Guyana would increase supplies. Thailand another sugar producer produces 300 M.W. electricity.

Researchers estimate that globally some 50,000 M.W. of turbines co-generation with sugar production level ,while South America alone potential for generating 18,000, M.W.These projections are based improved gas turbine co-generation units.

In rice growing developing countries, rice husk are most crop residue. Every five tons of rice milled husk one tonne  of husk with energy content as one ton of wood.

Using  grassfires this by product can be used to power to mill, run irrigation pumps, electricity  in rural area or provide electricity to the grid.

Hush fired steam power plants are operating in India ,Malaysia ,the Philippines, Thailand and United states. A 10.5  mega watt plant in Punjab will operate year around and burn 20   M.T. of husk for hour.

As India second largest rice grower, India produces 30 million tons husk annually   to enough to justify investment in 500 MW. OF  husk fired generating capacity.

It is surprising but leading renewable energy source  in U.S..is bio-mass energy. Currently wood accounts 84 per cent bio -mass energy  production. This is mostly in paper and forest products industry which use the technology to meet more than half  of energy needs.

Moreover bio-mass  energy is relatively less expensive when compared to conventional coal fired generating plants.

Bio-mass-burning generates carbon dioxide  and perhaps the most polluting of renewable energy. But new technologies  are being developed  to reduce harmful emission.

There are also several disadvantages of bi-mass fuel

Since about  half of the world bio-mass production is used agriculture crops, wood products contribution of bio-mass fuel energy mix will be limited

While use of waste bi-mass to generate energy is sensible, the cultivation of fuel crops or fuel wood plantation is controversial In many where land and food short supply planting crops or fuel may be in appropriate..

Removal of bio-mass may deplete soils. When  bio-mass is removed  for fuel top soil may be depleted, soil fertility declines.

In India where agriculture and forest wood are immense. The use of bio-mass as  source of energy has high potential. Bio-mass produced as a result of solar energy conversion though  photosynthesis can be and  renewable .Bio-mass can be either utilized directly as fuel or can be converted into liquid or gaseous fuels which can be used as a feed stock..

In India Godavari bio-refineries close to commissioning of  facility that will  available conversion of B-heavy molasses from sugar cane into ethanol keeping in a mind possible future when prices ethanol will rise sufficiently to this viable.

Direct ethanol production from B- heavy molasses is almost like converting sugar cane into ethanol. Ethanol is produced in the country from molasses, which is a by product  in sugar manufacturing. At present  government of India  interim   price ethanol in India is only RS 27 per liter for mandatory blending with petrol. Government  will fix the final price of ethanol for mandatory blending with petrol after expert group gives its recommendation. Oil marketing companies floated tenders for one billion litres of  ethanol for blending with ethanol.

From  Cotton  which is having 96 per cent cellulose , an engineering student Mr. Pravin Kumar Hyderabad developed process to manufacturing bio -fuel. According design  from pravinkumar   from 1.4 kg cotton he can produce 1.75 litres bio-fuel. According to him present price  quality cotton available approximately RS 36 per kg. second variety cotton available at RS 15 TO 25 per kg. By using his invention farmers will get  cotton at support price in addition to bio-fuel available at cheaper prices.  Mr.Pravin Kumar  planning to start daily 5ooo liters bio -fuel capacity plant for  manufacturing bio -fuel . This news is from  Enadu telugu daily paper dated 21st November

miniature star on earth planned to solve energy woes

Miniature star or earth planned to solve energy woes

In a bid to solve earth energy woes scientists are contemplating building the world first  “ sustainable fusion “ reactor by creating what they claim is miniature star on our planets.

Fusion is the process by which atoms combine releasing large amounts of energy it can produce the equivalent energy of 300 gallons petrol from just a gallon of sea water and fuel equivalent two tonnes  of coal from 50 cups of water.

Following series of key experiments over last few weeks, the 2.2. Billion dollars project has inched a little closer to its goal of igniting a workable fusion reactor by 2012 the daily mail reported.

A team at national ignition facility is Liver more ,California has fixed up the 192 laser beams at the centre of the reactor and aimed them at glass target containing tritium and deuterium .

The resulting release of energy was magnitude of 1.3 million mega  joules, which was word record peak radiation temperature measure at  the core was approximately six million degrees Fahrenheit, says scientists.

For direct comparison, the temperature at the centre of sun is 2.7 million degrees Fahrenheit. The scientists  estimate that a prototype power station version of fusion reactor could be operational by 2020 and that by 2050 almost quarter of the U.S. energy could supplied by fusion power.

“ the  result of all these experiments  are encouraging. They give us great  confidence  that we will be able to achieve ignition condition in deuterium-tritium fusion targets “ N I F director Ed Mosses was quoted as saying.

Added  a spokes person for facilities fusion is very promising as a long term future energy source, as fuel required to generate it are relatively abundant on earth and creation of energy is safe and environmentally safe.

“ deuterium  is extracted from sea water and tritium is derived from metal lithium a common element in the soil. One gallon of sea water would provide the equivalent energy of 300 gallons of petrol and fuel from 50 cups of water contain the energy equivalent of two tonnes of coal.


“A fusion power plant would be carbon free as well as produces considerably lower amounts and less difficult to store radioactive by products than current nuclear power plants.

If these experiments successful world energy woes will reduce and power availability will be boom to world energy requirements and world industrial growth. 

source-spefic tariff likely for renewable energy

Source -specific tariff likely for renewable energy

To encourage clean renewable energy government decided that energy distribution companies have to replace 6 per cent total power quantity with power generated from wind energy and  hydel power.

A new financial instrument reduction in emission certificate (REC) has been created that will be sold to Indian companies producing renewable energy to distributing companies like state electricity boards (SEB ) ,distributing companies, Tata power, reliance infrastructure on REC.  REC represent  I mega watt hour (mwh). An REC is there to meet their renewable purchase obligation what government  called R.P.O. The concept is directed specially at states that have no renewable energy potential but can meet through purchase of RECs.

“A  CER hour is targeted carbon emission hence it is measured in tonne while REC is measured  in unit of kilowatt hour “ an energy expert said.

The paper will begin trading from January on two national electrical exchanges. The India energy exchange  and power exchange of India. An official with power exchange said potential buyers will be distribution companies SEBs ,captive power plants and open access   to consumers.

Wind ,bio-mass and hydro generation are eligible to sell RECs.
Solar is separate category with separate energy because still being small generator.

With India  1.60 lakh M.W. installed capacity 9600 M.W. of power has to be brought  from renewable energy companies physically or on REC. government price brand RS 1.50 to RS 3.67 per mwh. We can earn over and above the price of unit that we get from  state power utilities . We get  RS 3.90 per unit of wind power we supply to state utilities.

“When tradable REC come into force ,we can get additional RS 1.50 mwh .” director Sahayadri industries  said. His company already installed 25 wind mills and plan to add six more to produce  23 M.W.  power not all which eligible REC trading though. Each seller will get REC from state electricity regulatory commission equivalent to quantity of actual renewable energy supplied to state grid.

The state grid the paper can then traded. To really take off the Pledging REC  market need  equal enthusiastic buyers. The government has stiff penalties for companies does not meet their 6 per cent obligation. It is also difficult to buy renewable energy only through short term contracts or spot market. Some such companies like Tata power are meeting their 6 per cent commitment though captive capacities.  

In a bid to make purchase of renewable energy attractive for power distribution companies ,the central electricity regulatory commission (CERC) is exploring the possibilities of introducing source-specific tariff for purchase of renewable energy which are obligatory for  renewable purchase obligation (RPO)  .

Currently the SEBs in order to meet their renewable purchase obligation, procure energy from sources such as wind power and small hydro at the CERC notified tariff. The need for having source -specific is being felt as energy from solar sources would be higher than other renewable energy sources.

As  a part of national action plan on climate change the distributing companies mandated 5 to 6 percent of their energy  mix from clean energy in current year and increasing 5 to 15 per cent by 2020.At present clean energy is mainly generated in state such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka,A.P.,  Gujarat,Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

“We  are looking at how to create demand for various sources by giving good tariff and future making it an obligatory for utilities to buy “ Mr.Pramod Deo, chair person CERC told in press conference at the launch of REC mechanism.
The intension is to ensure that the distributing companies, open access consumers and captive power plants will have the option of purchasing the RECs to meet their RPO are mandated by state electricity regulatory commission (SERC) to purchase minimum level of renewable energy out of total consumption in the area of distribution licenses.

With  launch of REC  on Thursday the government seek to address the mismatch between availability of renewable  sources  and requirement of obligated entitles to meet RPO.

To enable  the other states meet their obligation clean energy requirement,REC mechanism has been introduced. It allows deficient states to meet their RPO  by purchasing the certificates.

The national load dispatch centre is nodal agency for implementation of REC. The REC market is likely to be operational zed by January .

India not in priority list of carbon emitters

India not in the priority list of carbon emitter

U.A.E ,Australia & U.S. have the worst overall records for emitting green house gases ,according to an index published on Wednesday combining current and historic emissions.

The top of 183 nations complied by British consultancy Maple Croft was dominated by rich countries OPEC members .It said it aimed  to alert investors to countries vulnerable if U.N. led climate takes average need wider penalties on carbon.

The ranking of carbon -dioxide emission from energy use U.A. E. top largely because of sharp rise in emissions in the recent years linked to desalination plants in economy almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels.

“ Desalination is a positive way to address water security but emission underline the need to find more energy -efficient innovation” Maple Craft said in a statement.

Australia ,dependent on coal was second ahead of U.S. by far the biggest cumulative emitter since 1900 now the number two national emitter behind China. Both Australian and Americans have high per capita emissions.

They will be trailed by Canada, the Netherland ,Saudi Arabia ,Singapore ,Russian , Belgium and Kazakhstan top ten.

Shale  gas and its priority

Shale gas is alternative energy source for substituting CNG  gas.

Shale gas - hydraulic fracing  a way to creating fractures in the underground shale formation with help of fluid is now evolving  as a separate disciple in hydro carbon drilling because of it possible environment.

Many explorers use diesel as fracing fluid to extract gas trapped in rock formation.

For shale gas exploration we need  to drill more holes for unit area than any other hydro carbon which makes it possible more complex. Since shale gas is found much deeper than ground water leaves it may not be possible lead to contamination. India however adopt the best international practices in U.S. by way of caution. 
The  India-U.S. pact on shale gas co-operation signed  during the recent visit of president Barack Obama  should go long way towards ensuring India energy security.

Shale gas exploration  should help reduced India dependency on imported CNG.
U.S. is the only country to have achieved commercial success in shale gas production.

Although India is believed to have good potential shale gas production, as on   date India need shale gas technology to explore shale gas .

According  to memorandum  under standing signed  by two countries U.S. will help India like assessment of shale gas reserves and technical assistance to start exploration and training our engineers.

Shale gas exploration in other countries is still experimental stage. Apart from technology good geologist are required to succeed in shale gas.

In U.S. the cost of shale production varies from  3.3 US. Dollars per mmbtu to 6.4 dollars per mmbtu which lower which lower than imported CNG. India two will have establish cost economics of shale gas for commercial scale production.
India Reliance industries acquired three shale gas field in U.S. and trying to explore this gas.

TRA strikes back

TRA STRIKE BACK  : TRA  watch dog  recommended  are want 69 2G  licensed  to  be scrapped.

 New twist to  contra verse that lead to resignation Sunday former  communication minister A.Raja.Indian telecom watch dog Thursday said it had recommended scraping of 69 of 122 licenses given for 2G phone services to new players. 

“The role out of services on these licenses has failed to comply with set norms. Six companies had been given  69 licenses” a senior official in the telecom regulating authority  of India said.

“ these companies must be penalized “ said official, adding that the licensing and terms clearly spell out how much net work has to be rolled out in the licensed  area each year and penalty entailed  for failing to do.

Of 69 liceses,20 have been issued to Loop telecom,15 to Etisalat DB ,11 TO  Sistema-shyam ,10 Videocon and 8 to Uninor and 5 TO Unninor.

According to officials of Sam char bhavan  the head quarters of Dept of telecom (DOT)  the recommendation will be examined and if required notices could be issued to companies to show cause notice why licenses should not be cancelled or scraped. These are not directions but recommendation they will be duly examined.” a senior official said explaining process involved.

The suggestion come after the most serious incitement on 2G spectrum-scam  in which Indian officials auditor said former communication minister A. Raja even ignored prime minister  Manmohn Singh  advice and all  other radio frequency to new telecom players at low prices.

The comptroller and audit general of India has estimated the preventive revenue loss to exchequer at RS 58,000 CRORES (12.8 billion dollars) and 1.75 lakh crores nearly (40 billion dollars)based on different valuation parameters.

In 96 page report including annexure table in parliament the auditor sought  to spell out what it felt was potential loss to exchequer in 2G spectrum allocation in 2007-08 due policies followed by then communication minister A. Raja.

“The entire process of spectrum allocation was under taken in arbitrary manner “ said report, adding that the estimates of loss was based on various parameters-without recourse to any mathematical or economic modes and -and presumptive in nature.

The issue has been simmering for our two years and after refusing to resign saying that he had no wrong . Raja quit his job past late night Sunday ending opposition-congress stand off that however continue to paralyze parliament.

It is very sad  that former communication minister should have resigned instead of forced to go out.

Such bad incidents make India position bad  when  country is trying to attract foreign investors. 

hazardous wastes

Hazardous wastes

Hazardous substances are chemical that can be harmful to human and organisms. Most of these substances are toxic materials, such as DOT, solvents and lead from both manufactured sources  and natural sources.

A toxic substance as classified as hazardous waste if it handled and disposed of such way that it poses a human health and environment. In other word a toxic substance is hazardous if there is some risk of exposure and harm.

In the world most hazardous waste can be traced to three industrial sources  chemical manufacturing, ,primary metal manufacturing, petroleum refining together they produce about 75 per cent of today hazardous waste stream.

A) Waste produced directly from raw materials processing in chemical, metal and petroleum plant themselves,
b)Wastes produced from secondary manufacturing operations such as plastics and paper plants that use the chemical and petroleum products.
c)Other products include such as pesticides paints that are finally discarded in the environment.

 There are at least six main classes of hazardous waste based on waste composition.

.. Heavy metals (eg.lead,zinc and arsenic)
.. Synthetic organic compounds (e.g. PCB,DDT,DIOXINE)
..Petroleum products (grease,oil,and gasoline )
 ..Biological substances (e.g. Bacteria and plant toxins ) 
..Radioactive materials (e.g. nuclear fuel rods and nuclear medical materials.

These waste are distributed  in the environment by virtually all major land uses. However land uses industry and agriculture are responsible for delivery of most hazardous wastes to the environment. These land uses-are major contributions of organic compounds, heavy metals and acids to soil air and water systems.

Transportation  is also an important hazardous waste delivery agent, especially of petroleum products, mainly through spills and leakage storage tanks.  

Whereas more than  I million square miles of croplands in the world receiving pesticide treatment this is clearly the most wide spread means of hazardous waste distribution to the land .In addition some pesticides residues from farm fields are further dispersed by the atmosphere .  

Waste  management in general could be broadly classified into two main categories the preventive (addressing the cause of waste generation ) and curative (  controlling the harm full effects of wastes.)

.. De materialization of production.
.. Recycling wastes back into production.
..Recovery  of ingredients and or treatment of wastes.
..Dispersal, dumping or storage
De materialization of production, recycling, and concept of cleaner production, industrial metabolism ,and industrial eco-system addressing both preventive and curative approaches.

Treatment of hazardous wastes
Treatment of hazardous waste has  so far involved physical,thermal,chemical  or biological process. More recently biotechnology has provided new options for dealing with hazardous wastes but some of these methods using micro organism have not yet been applied on a scale that would allow proper assessment of their effectiveness.

Finally these remains the necessity of dumping or storing hazardous wastes, which again  has its problems. The volumes of hazardous  chemical waste treated in different ways. It shows that disposal on land or at sea is by far , the most common approach for managing hazardous  wastes. Land fills contaminate   soil causing changes in its micro ecology. Leachates from land fills contaminate surface and ground water with harmful compounds  making such water un usable and threat to human health.

Disposal on the marine environment has diverse harmful effects such as the reduction, alternation  or contamination of fauna or oxygen depletion.

Hazardous waste tend to run down  hill to least regulated and least expensive disposal option unless market forces an such that they direct hazardous waste management  to more appropriate option. The main attraction of land fills is their low cost. For centuries now lightly corrosive and  toxic residues of mining and metal refining process have been accumulating in the neighbor hood of these operation in many part of world without due consideration of their divesting impacts on local environment or damages to human health.

Some hazardous waste are exported to other developed countries that have special treatment facilities but considerable amounts are spited always to less developed region mainly Africa the Asia where they are dumped under highly dangerous conditions. 

It is necessary that scientists and  engineer to search alternative method of disposing the waste chemical to each identified chemical and process to dispose of these chemicals and to save the   environment.      

energy security risks and alternatives

Energy security risks and alternatives

Energy is secure means it is adequate affordable  and reliable. Consumers expect the lights to always come on flick of switches,their buildings to be maintained at comfortable temperature all over year around, and to be able to purchase  vehicle fuel, or public  transport tickles whenever they wish to travel.

Electricity  ,heat and mobility are usually considered to be amongst the basic necessities of life and therefore affordable to all citizens at any time. Energy security risk may be defined as a degree of probability of disruption to energy supply occurring.

Energy security risks can be categorized
a) energy market instabilities caused by  unforeseen  changes in geo-political or other external factors or compounded by fossil fuel resources concentration.
b) technical failures such as power outages black outs and grid failure or mal function of system under operation.
C) physical security threats such as  terrorists, sabotage, theft or  as well as  natural disasters earth quakes,hurricane,volcanic eruptions ,the effect of climate change.

Energy market instability

Energy supply constraints may occur due to political unrest, trade embargoes and countries able to negotiate unilateral supply deals. The such supply physical interruption thanks to flexibility of energy transport, storage, distribution of system as well as international mechanism .

Petroleum exporting countries (OPEC) countries account for 75 per cent of global conventional oil reserves.OECD  countries only account 7 per cent while they consume close 60 per cent of world total.

Similarly over half of global proven gas reserves are found in three countries, the Russian federation (27 per cent ) Iran (15 per cent) and Qatar ( 14 per cent).OECD countries account for 8 per cent total reserves but consume 50 per cent of world total.

Recently world energy out look (WEO) business as usual reference ,Scenario projected that oil demand will become increasingly insensitive to price, which reinforces  that potential impact of supply disruption on oil prices. Transport demand is price -in elastic relative to other energy sources, since its heavily dependence on global oil consumption is projected to rise, oil demand will become less responsive to movements in international oil prices.
Thus prices are expected to fluctuate more than previously in response to short term  demand supply shifts.

Technical  failure of system due to accident or human failure may cause temporary supply disruption.

Due to acts terrorism ,sabotage and natural disasters can effect any part of energy supply transmission lines, oil & gas exploration ,extraction and refining installation as well as oil and gas fired plants, pipeline and storage facilities ,rail and road net works terminal and ports ,and shipping tankers or road vehicles.

How to avoid energy security risks

Currently India follows the policy of substituting coal for oil because of  abundance of coal resources and inadequate oil production resulting to large oil imports. When oil cannot be substituted by coal directly it is done through electricity .Diesel pump sets are have been systematically replaced by electric pump sets. Even diesel in transport is substituted by electricity though electrification and encouraging suburban railways wherever possible.

The need for massive investments has limited the progress of substitutes, but they are part of strategic plans.


India energy planners need to take role of current debate on global warming .this concern has devalued coal resources .there will pressure from international  energy sources to substitute oil in place of coal. India need   to study its options carefully.

Asian Pacific countries have vigorously perused a policy on national energy development aimed to increasing the resilience to other economies externalize a) development of natural gas b) development of alternative renewable energies wind power and solar energy’s c) promoting use of civil nuclear energy .

Government should promote use following  energies for future growth.

a) As  far electricity concerned government planned add additional generating capacity to 1,00,000 M.W. during 12th five year plan and same additional power generating capacity also of 1,00,000 M.W. during 13th five year plan  in addition to existing power generating capacity 1,60,000 M.W. 

b)Increasing present capacity  of renewable energy 10  per cent of total generating power capacity to  20 per cent by 2017
c)Nuclear  power generating capacity 6000 M.W. (BY end of 2010 ) to 20,000 M .W  by 2017
d) Increasing natural gas production in K.G.basin .
e) Reduce depend upon imported oil and develop already discovered gas and oil fields.
f) Develop infrastructure transmission lines and substations and other power infrastructure like roads ,communication lines.
h) Development pipe lines for gas distribution and other infrastructure for promoting natural gas .
I) Environmental clearances made to be easy for building power plants.  
Government should  take necessary steps for promoting shale gas  by developing partnership with U.S. companies.

Government should analyze  actual alternative sources of energy, as energy is top priority for as  all development activities which are  depend on country’s growth. 

nuclear energy

Nuclear energy

India is fifth largest energy  consumer  in the world and coming decades its consumption would only increase in keeping with its growth. Therefore to secure its energy needs by reaching out to a global  milieu becomes need our.

World energy needs are going through the roof with global electricity demand  expect more than double by 2050. The nuclear energy industry is stepping up to fill anticipated gaps. As countries look at ways to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, nuclear  power is emerging at the top of the agenda for most governments in Asia Pacific region .Regional leaders are looking at nuclear power as part of their country energy mix to meet exponential demand of their future needs.

Nuclear power is an alternative energy source for India at present.

On the other hand Russia ,and the independent republics have continue to operate existing power plant to have un safe reactor design .As Asia countries such as Japan ,Taiwan ,and south Korea have to come to rely on heavily on electricity generated from nuclear power as their economies have expanded rapidly. More than half of south Korea electricity generated  in nuclear power plants  while  forty plants supply nearly one third of Japan electricity. Elsewhere in North America ,Canada  produces about  one fifth electricity from their nuclear reactors.

From summery we can  see that nuclear power is viewed in some quarters as most appropriate technology for generating electricity. Hence is brief description of how nuclear power plant work

Generating electricity in a nuclear power plant.

The nuclear fission reactions that occur in  a power plant reactor involve a controlled chain reaction in which nuclei  of  radio-active isotopes, usually uranium 235, are split or fashioned when bombarded by neutrons. The energy released by splitting the nuclei of U- 235  atom  is used  to heat water. The steam from this heated water as in conventional thermal electric power plants, drives turbines that turn  electric generation. It is more ironic that this extra ordinary complex and costly technology is used to accomplished the very simple task of heating water. More than  80 per cent  worlds nuclear power plants  have light water reactors (LWR) which use ordinary water as the “moderaler” to determine the critical speed at which neutrons must strike the uranium atom U-235 in nuclear fuel elements in order for fission to occur.

Most remaining reactor use either heavy water (deuterium oxide) or solid graphite ( a form of carbon ) moderating medium .

To sustain that size nuclear program to long term future, it would be   necessary to switch over regime that use of fuel most effectively than  conventional once through cycle.

There  are three possibilities

1. Uranium resource can be extended by 20-30 percent by reprocessing the spent fuel.
2. Ultimately a fast reactor, with breeding  ratio  of 1.0 or more of pu-239 and  U-238 would expand fuel resource by factor of 50 more. Fast  reactor technology based on oxide fuel and sodium cooling has been  developed in many countries but France commercialized these reactors for regular use. The safety characteristics of sodium  cooled reactor have proved to be good. The fuel and fuel assemblies have worked well but the technology as whole prove to be difficult mainly due to problem in heat exchangers.
Thirdly
3. The resource could be extended by use of U-232  obtained from TH-232 in a breeder cycle.

One conclude that there is no urgent need of commercialize fast reactor but there is need to continue development of more efficient  way of using uranium fuel when resource constraints may appear.

Advantage of nuclear energy

With nuclear power air pollution is minimal. When nuclear power plants operating as designed they emit only minuscule amount of  radiation-in fact less than  some coal fired power plants. Further  more they emit no smoke ,particulates or nitrogen and sulphar pollutants as do fossil power plants.

There is less impact from mining and transportation than fossil fuel ,compared with coal most used fuel for electricity production much less uranium ore is needed to generate equal amount of electricity. This means there is considerably less land disturbance and fewer transport problems and lower costs with uranium. 

Fission fuel may last indefinitely .In addition India importing uranium from Russia .world wide there are reprocessing facilities operating in England ,France, India and Japan .

Nuclear liability bill

The nuclear liability bill passed in India is unfortunately not attractive to American or Indians. It is not line with international conventions therefore its also interest of Indian  companies like Bharat Forge, L&T,G.V.K,Releince Energy, Tata power companies that will be engaged in Indian civil nuclear programme as well as world’s  nuclear renaissance -they ultimately want  a liability regime in line with international convention. The signing convention on supplementary compensation (CSC) is very positive step. Ultimately laws  will be brought in line domestically to align with international convention prescribed  by international atomic energy. If laws are brought in line with that then it will be much more amenable towards Indian ,Americans and French companies that understand that we have to work together with minimum liability in  unlikely event of a nuclear accident.

As India energy sector expanding world wide we should promote use of nuclear energy for civil electricity generation by attracting the investments from foreign investors. NPCIL  already  planning to set up imported light water reactors based  a capacity of 40,000 M.W. BY 2020.

As India planned to add additional power generating capacity 1,00,000 M.W. during 12th five year plan and same quantity of  additional generating capacity during 13th five year plan the it all the way necessary to promote nuclear energy on large scale.