India-Chile to enhance co-operation in renewable energy

NEW DELHI, INDIA: India and Chile have agreed to enhance their cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy. This was decided at a meeting held between the Chilean Energy Minister Jorge Bunster and Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister of New and Renewable Energy at Ankara.

Dr. Farooq Abdullah is visiting Chile along with a high level delegation to explore greater opportunities for co-operation and collaboration between Indian and Chile.

Dr. Abdullah briefed his counterpart on the energy situation in India. Dr. Abdullah stated that India plans to add over 30 GW of renewable energy to its energy mix in the next 5 years alone. He also dwelt on the success of the wind programme as well as the significant cost reductions in solar energy through the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).

Bunster informed the Indian Minister that Chile is almost entirely dependent on imports for its energy needs and is therefore extremely keen to diversify its energy mix by introducing a large component of renewables. It has considerable potential in wind, hydro, solar and geothermal energy. He recognized India's considerable achievements and strengths in renewable energy and noted that India had made large strides in the same. He expressed his government's desire to set up a 50 MW Solar thermal generating capacity in the north of the country.

Dr. Abdullah offered India's support and expertise to Chile in setting up renewable projects. He offered the services of Indian experts and institutions like Centre for Wind Energy, Solar Energy Centre, Alternate Hydro Energy Centre for resource assessment of renewable energy sources, training of personnel and also preparation of projects for exploiting these technologies in Chile. He also offered training slots in India to Chilean scientists, engineers and technicians through the Indian Technical And Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme.

The Indian Minister expressed his country's desire for a serious and meaningful cooperation with the entire Latin American region, especially Chile, in renewable energy and offered all possible assistance.

Earlier in the day, the Minister held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister, Alfredo Moreno Charme. The two ministers discussed a variety of issues of bilateral interest including the proposed visit of the Chilean president to India in October. The Minister also met Jorge Pizzaro, president of the Chilean Senate. He also addressed a meeting of the UN ECLAC in Santiago, where he offered India's fullest support to the entire region in development of renewable energy.