WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman next week will travel to New Delhi and Mumbai, India to highlight ongoing cooperation between the United States and India to advance global energy security.  Secretary Bodman will hold bilateral discussions with senior Indian officials and U.S. and Indian business leaders to encourage trade and investment between the two countries.  In particular, Secretary Bodman will encourage cooperation in the development and deployment of clean energy technologies, including clean coal and renewable energy, to help India meet growing global energy demands in an environmentally responsible way.

As part of these discussions, Secretary Bodman will also highlight the nations’ partnership in civil nuclear energy that, once finalized, will enable India to reap the benefits of international collaboration to attract new technology and investment in civil nuclear energy infrastructure.  Secretary Bodman will also encourage cooperation on nuclear non-proliferation and the coordinated use of strategic petroleum reserves in cases of a severe supply disruption.

New Delhi, India

Secretary Bodman will begin his three-day trip in New Delhi where he will meet India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and senior Indian officials from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Indian Planning Commission.  Secretary Bodman will deliver keynote remarks to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), one of India’s leading business associations, on advancing global energy security and meet with U.S. business leaders.

On Wednesday, Secretary Bodman will deliver remarks encouraging regional energy integration at the Annual South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Conference.  Secretary Bodman will highlight the importance of increasing the use of energy efficient technologies, advancing laws and policies that promote transparency and sanctity of contracts, and furthering cooperation to reduce bottlenecks in electricity delivery.

Mumbai, India

After visiting New Delhi, Secretary Bodman will travel to Mumbai where he will participate in a roundtable discussion with Indian venture capitalists at a Confederation of Indian Industries breakfast where he will discuss how venture capital can play a key role in bringing new clean energy technologies to the marketplace.  Secretary Bodman will also visit with the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission to discuss the nations’ international cooperation on civil nuclear energy and nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

Media contact(s):
Anne Womack Kolton, (202) 586-4940