Is Energy security a practical approach for India?

“Energy security based on clean & reliable sources is essential for india’s future. Nuclear energy has a key role in india’s energy strategy .”–:Narendra Modi

Energy is required for growth.It is no surprise that India, with an economy expected to grow at a rate of more than 9% over the next decade, has developed a voracious appetite for energy.The relationship between energy consumption and population growth is well understood. In fact, it is India's steady economic rise that has pushed the issue of energy security to the forefront. No doubt we all have the requirements of energy . It is considered to be an important element for accelerating development in india because its consumption pattern is the measure growth of a nation. Its availability or lack of it, is also an important element in the measurement of a country’s comprehensive national power.To give you a quick reality check, India's per capita energy consumption is currently as low as 700 kWh, while the global average is 2,500 kWh and many developed countries have figures as high as 15,000 kWh.

India’s Existing Scenario

Today in 2022, India's energy development has seen extraordinary success, but major challenges are still a concern, and the global pandemic has played a significant disruption. In recent years, India has connected hundreds of millions of its citizens to electricity, promoted the adoption of highly efficient LED lighting by most households, and prompted a massive expansion in renewable energy sources that run by solar power. The improvements for Indian citizens and their quality of life have been tangible. However, the Covid-19 crisis has complex efforts to resolve other pressing problems. These comprise a lack of reliable electricity supply for many consumers continued reliance on solid biomass which is mainly firewood that is used as a cooking fuel for some 660 million people in our country. Without further ado! Let us get right to the point and take a closer look at India's current scenarios in the concept of energy security throughout Asia in order to justify various policies or actions at the same time, even if these strategies appear to be differing.

A Narrow Approach Towards a much Needed Evolution

India’s energy security has been narrow in its approach, primarily aiming at managing supply. However, over the last two decades, India's energy security policy has evolved into a much more inclusive approach that takes into account the political, economic, social, and environmental issues and concerns that are currently being pursued internationally in the energy security policy.

The quest for india's energy security could be seen under the context of four availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability, which is to make energy reachable & accessible to all the sections and sectors at an affordable price within a social and political acceptable carbon-controlled environment. As a result, energy security has emerged as one of the Modi government's top foreign policy priorities. This is significant as the Modi government seeks to transform India into a manufacturing powerhouse through its much-touted 'Make in India' initiatives. The primacy of energy security in Modi's foreign policy is reflected in his record number of high-profile foreign visits, during which he has cut energy deals with energy-rich countries.

India’s Quest for Energy Security in Asia-Pacific

The promise of energy security is enticing, but for an import-dependent country like India, it is no longer a wish, but a critical imperative for an economy on the verge of maturity as a growing one, necessitating serious efforts by the Government of India to improve energy supplies as India faces potentially severe energy supply constraints. In the renewable energy regime, India is emerging as a new normative player. Prime Minister Modi has pursued an unwavering commitment to energy security by building 175 GW of renewable capacity by 2022, and India is committed to combating global warming regardless of what happens in the rest of the world.

India’s energy policy is being pursued in a much more comprehensive manner in its domestic and international backgrounds to address its fastest-growing energy demand in a competitive geo-political environment. Energy exploration of india in the new regions is putting in direct competition with its other Asian countries.

Challenges Faced to meet the country’s economic demands

With growing concerns about global climate change and political instability in energy-rich regions of the world, India's pursuit of energy security becomes more difficult. India has relied primarily on coal and petroleum for its energy sources, and a shift to renewable energy sources will not be sufficient to meet the country's rising energy demand. The country must look for energy sources that emit less CO2 and provide base load power.Gas and nuclear energy are important in this context. India's gas consumption is significantly lower than the global average.The Modi government has also prioritised increasing gas utilisation and transitioning to a gas-based economy.

India intends to build gas pipelines to import gas from neighbouring countries.A number of gas pipelines have been proposed and are currently under construction. As some of the proposed gas pipelines will pass through Pakistan and China, the majority of them involve intense geopolitics.The problems of diversification of energy sources for India arise from political volatility, geopolitics of these regions, and above all, it puts India in direct competition with China as the new destination of energy source, which sparks a geopolitical competition and adds more complexities to the existing competition.

Final Thoughts

India, a developing country, has a wide range of policies in place to ensure a secure and sustainable energy future.If India wants to be considered an emerging economy with global clout, it must ensure that its economic growth is sustainable. Energy security is a critical component for economic growth; without it, every infrastructure will stagnate.