The Informal Working Group on Energy Security, which is a forum comprising officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), line energy Ministries, Planning Commission and representatives of public sector enterprises, met on 20th February, 2013. This Informal Working Group meets on a regular basis. Secretary (Economic Relations), Shri Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty chaired the meeting.
The meeting discussed several new initiatives undertaken by MEA with respect to energy issues. Energy Security is a high priority item on the agenda for interaction with foreign countries and entities. MEA and its Missions and Posts abroad support international engagements of the line ministries and Indian companies. MEA has also instituted a regular dialogue with Chambers of Commerce. Foreign Secretary and Secretary (ER) met representatives of apex chambers of Commerce on February 1, 2013.
In today’s meeting of the Informal Working Group on Energy Security, representatives of line ministries, Planning Commission and public sector undertakings in their interventions underlined the likely areas and regions to which India should pay greater attention for ensuring energy security for the nation. Energy opportunities in countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Lebanon, Egypt, Canada, Tanzania, Mozambique and USA were discussed. MEA also informed the meeting that it had requisitioned the services of PricewaterhouseCoopers Pvt. Ltd. and Indian Institute of Foreign Trade to produce research papers on specific energy security related issues.
The next meeting of the Informal Working Group on Energy Security will take place in May 2013.
New Delhi
February 20, 2013
