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Homegrown power giant NTPC has signed an agreement with UK-based Octopus Energy Group to explore business opportunities in various segments, including electricity distribution and storage. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Jatinder Singh Chandok, Head International Business Development, NTPC, and Chris Fitzgerald, Group Director, International Affairs, Octopus Energy, on the sidelines of Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 in the national capital. The collaboration will explore opportunities across India, the UK and other mutually agreed geographies with a focus on enhancing efficiency, affordability, reliability, and clean energy adoption, NTPC said. The MoU establishes a non-binding frameworkfor cooperation aimed at identifying, assessing, and pursuing opportunities in electricity distribution and retail, renewable energy and storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, digital energy platforms, innovation, research & development and capacity building.
Against the backdrop of spiralling hostilities in West Asia, India on Saturday said it has remained in touch with all key players, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran, the US and Israel, with a primary focus on safeguarding its energy security. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that besides advocating for dialogue and diplomacy, India has consistently underlined the necessity of ensuring the unimpeded transit of goods and energy supplies through the region. Aseem Mahajan, an additional secretary in the ministry, said five Indian nationals have lost their lives and one remains missing in the ongoing conflict. He said around 1,72,000 Indians have returned to India since February 28, the day the hostilities began. "We have also called for avoiding targeting civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, across the region. We believe that these are the priorities of a large part of the global community since the impact of the conflict is bei
The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced a subsidy of Rs 2 per unit of electricity for restaurants, hotels and tea shops that switch to electric stoves instead of commercial LPG cylinders to run their businesses. Chief Minister M K Stalin has been holding review meetings since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28, which has led to a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders for eateries, the government said. At a review meeting held on Saturday, it was decided to provide a subsidy of Rs 2 per unit for the additional electricity consumed by the hotels, tea shops and cloud kitchens using induction stoves. "This subsidy will remain in effect as long as the commercial LPG usage restrictions announced by the Centre are in place," Additional Chief Secretary J Radhakrishnan said. Briefing reporters at the Secretariat here, he said electricity consumption by hoteliers and restaurants has increased, with demand rising by about 50 MW above the average in the recent days. Referri
A parliamentary committee has flagged significant delays in expenditure under the scheme for promotion of coal, lignite gasification, noting zero spending for most of 2025-26 despite a revised allocation of Rs 285 crore, and suggested a time-bound spending framework with quarterly milestone verification. The standing committee on coal, mines and steel was of the view that the scheme's outlay was brought down from Rs 300 crore at Budget Estimates (BE) 2025-26 to Rs 285 crore at Revised Estimates (RE) stage due to milestone-based needs, with no expenditure incurred and even a a single eligible project pending reimbursement formalities. "The committee noted that no expenditure is incurred for most of the financial year, with even a single eligible project awaiting fulfilment of reimbursement formalities," it said. The panel further noted that against a Revised Estimate of Rs 285 crore in 2025-26, the Budget Estimate for 2026-27 was sharply raised to Rs 3,525 crore. The committee, ...