India

This despite rising use of renewable energy.

High-level talks also include labor laws.

Will guide development of this important sector.

Needs nuclear energy to meet growing energy requirements.

States providing support and subsidies.

System built in Denmark.

Will also be India’s first light-water nuclear reactor.

Displaces state-owned ONGC in global rankings. Reliance Industries, Ltd improved eight positions to grab the 19th position on Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings for 2013. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) retained its 22nd place ranking, the position it had in 2012. RIL improved from 27th place.

Solar accounts for over 2 GW. India’s renewable energy capacity grew from 3.9 GW in 2003 to 27.3 GW by January 2013. Solar power in India comprises 2 GW of India’s electricity generation capacity. Reaching the 2 GW milestone means India can provide enough energy for some 278,000 homes.

Demand for Chinese power gear rising in India. India has allowed power equipment makers from China to set up power equipment service centers (PESCs) in India. India has become a strategic market for Chinese power equipment manufacturers.

Start-up delayed for six years. Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd., the nation’s sole atomic energy producer, has test-started the first unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The reactor was operated for two hours at a capacity of 175 megawatts. Station director Hari Narayan Sahu said the unit should run at half its capacity by Oct. 26 and reach its maximum output of 1,000 MW in six weeks while the second reactor should start in a year. Public rallies against Kudankulam are directed against the first two reactors, both of which are not covered by any liability law. The Kudankulam reactor is the result of a bilateral agreement between India and Russia signed before the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act became a law in 2010. The law makes atomic plant suppliers and builders liable in the event of nuclear accidents.

India’s total renewable energy potential is 150 GW. Despite this, India’s entire renewable energy sector contributes only 12% of India’s total power. About 65% of power from renewable energy sources comes from wind energy. Biomass accounts for 14%; small hydropower projects contribute 13% and solar energy 5%. Other sources contribute about 3%. The government intends to add 10 GW of solar energy by 2017 and 20 GW by 2022. India generates 1.8 GW of electricity from solar energy. India’s total installed power generation capacity stands at 223 GW, far less than the requirement. Demand for power is estimated to increase by 16 GW a year until 2020. The government plans to increase renewable capacity by 72 GW in the thermal sector; 11 GW in the hydro sector and 5 GW in the nuclear sector. Renewable energy sources contribute 29 GW of electricity. India expects to double this capacity to 55 GW by 2017. Solar energy generation alone will increase to 20 GW during this period under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar mission.

Cites delays in carrying out exploration.

Recently concluded Monsoon session of Indian parliament saw a spate of bills getting through. One of them was landmark, Companies Bill 2013. This bill has now got presidential assent and has become Companies Act 2013. One of the aims of this bill is to encourage Indian companies to use CSR to integrate economic, environmental and social objectives with their operations and growth. Thus, this bill seeks to actively engage top management by constituting a CSR board committee of 3 or more directors, with at least one of them being an independent.

Will cut Indian imports of this product.

Will cut Indian imports of this product.