Indo-US energy dialogue tomorrow

The ministerial-level Indo-US energy dialogue, which was postponed due to the treatment meted out to a senior Indian diplomat in New York, will take place tomorrow with American side to be led by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.
Moniz, who was to travel to India in January for the dialogue, had to postpone his visit after India's sharp reaction to the arrest of its former Deputy Consul General in New York Devyani Khobragade on charges of visa fruad.
During the dialogue, which will be co-chaired by Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the two sides will discuss ways to enhance collaboration in energy and promote trade and sound regulatory frameworks to deliver energy solutions for sustainable growth, official sources said today.

Part of the broader US-India Strategic Dialogue, the energy component was launched in May 2005 and the last round was held in Washington DC in September 2012.
"India and the US will affirm strong a commitment to working collaboratively on energy and to promoting greater technological innovation, scientific cooperation, research & development and deployment of environmentally-friendly technologies and products, trade and sound regulatory frameworks to deliver energy solutions for sustainable growth," they said.
The two sides are also expected to touch on exchanges between the US' Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and India's Department of Atomic Energy and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. This comes in the backdrop of reservation among American companies on Indian domestic nuclear liability law.

The two sides will review the full range of cooperation under the India-USA Energy Dialogue, highlighting the ongoing engagement in the areas of sustainable growth, electrical grid and power generation cooperation, energy efficiency, oil and gas exploration and investments including shale gas and LNG, expanding markets for renewable energy technologies, civilian nuclear energy, and addressing barriers to clean energy deployment.