POWER Power minister calls for enhanced action on energy efficiency by states Power Minister R K Singh has called for enhanced action on energy efficiency by states. Singh chaired a virtual meeting with senior officials from state governments and industry partners to review the current level of activities in the field of energy efficiency and clean energy transition being implemented by state agencies, a power ministry statement said. Singh said the government is committed to the environment and India is way ahead of the targets which it had committed to in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) declared in the Paris Climate Agreement. He stated that while the country is changing the nature of energy by adding more renewable energy, resulting in emissions reduction, it is also reducing the emissions intensity of the economy by schemes for energy efficiency such as UJALA and Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) which have resulted in reducing millions of tonnes of CO2 per annum. He He called for
10 | CCAI Monthly Newsletter October 2021
setting up of dedicated energy efficiency institutions in states, similar to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) at the central level. .
Power cost to remain high as imported coal prices soar: Ind-Ra Short-term power prices are likely to remain elevated in the near term on account of a continued increase in imported coal prices, according to rating agency Ind-Ra. It noted that a large part of the increased power generation would continue to be met through coal-based plants, although coal output is not increasing to the desired level. This is reflected in low inventory stocks at power plants, and therefore, a part of the increased energy demand will have to be met through imported coal, Ind-Ra said. In light of the expected high imported coal prices, the short-term power prices in India are likely to remain elevated, it stated. The speedy recovery in power demand post the second wave of COVID-19 infections, coupled
