Energy key component of Indo-US relations, says Piyush Goyal

Union Minister of State for Power (Independent Charge) Piyush Goyal on Tuesday described energy as a key strategic component of bilateral relationship between India and United States.

"Energy is one of the key strategic components of our bilateral relationship. The energy dialogue which was launched in 2005 has come a long way in the last decade. We have redrawn the priorities and the focus of the energy dialogue overtime," said Goyal at India-United States strategic and commercial dialogue that is being held here.

"This has also helped us to develop the energy dialogue in a more comprehensive to meet our mutual expectation," he added.

Goyal also asserted that the dialogue was an affirmation of the fact that both countries had a strong commitment to engage with each other in the energy sector for promoting greater technological innovation and developments to deliver energy solution for sustainable growth.

"Energy is a key component of our economic development agenda as also our need for energy security, and both of these are synonymous with the national security ambition of India," he added.

Goyal further said that the energy demand of India was steadily growing at about seven to eight percent every year.

"This obviously needs an uninterrupted energy quality supply to sustain our economic activity and growth to meet aspiration of billion plus people, both for affordable energy access and for quality energy access," he added.

Goyal further said that the NDA Government was committed to 24/7 power supply across India by 2019.

"For this we need to make our infrastructure more robust, cost effective, sustainable and inclusive of clean energy solutions," he added.

Tuesday's India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue will see delegations of both nations holding discussions in areas of mutual interest and identify possible areas for collaboration.

The dialogue is seen as the most comprehensive mechanism for discussion and deliberation on the specifics of bilateral agenda of cooperation in different fields between India and the United States.

Apart from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, the Indian delegation comprises of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman and Power Minister Piyush Goyal, besides senior Indian Government officials.