U.S.-India Energy Dialogue

Growing concerns about energy security have prompted the U.S. and India to launch a new Energy Dialogue that reflects the transformed strategic relationship between the world’s two largest democracies. Adequate and reliable supplies of energy at reasonable cost are essential to fuel India’s rapidly growing economy. The U.S. and India are becoming increasingly reliant upon oil and natural gas markets to satisfy their energy needs. Both nations depend heavily upon domestic supplies of coal for electric power generation and seek to increase their utilization of natural gas, renewable energy and nuclear power as well as pursue energy efficient practices to ensure a balanced and sustainable energy economy that helps preserve a clean environment. The United States and India recognize their mutual interests are best served by working together in a collaborative fashion to ensure stability in global energy markets.

The U.S. – India Energy Dialogue was launched on May 31, 2005. It established five Working Groups along with a Steering Committee to provide oversight. The goals of the Dialogue are to promote increased trade and investment in the energy sector by working with the public and private sectors to further identify areas of cooperation and collaboration. Building upon the broad range of existing cooperation, it is hoped that this effort will help mobilize secure, clean reliable and affordable sources of energy.

The five Working Groups are:

- Oil and Gas,
- Coal,
- Power and Energy Efficiency,
- New Technologies and Renewable Energy, and:
- Civil Nuclear.

The Oil and Gas Working Group will endeavor to strengthen mutual energy security and promote stable energy markets to ensure adequate supplies of energy that will support desired levels of economic growth. It will additionally work as a forum to exchange information and develop lines of communication for policy coordination in times of market instability, and promote increased trade and investment in the oil and gas sector. The Working Group met in July and agreed on future activities.

The Power and Energy Efficiency Working Group will advance understanding of efficient generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and promote the exchange of information on regulatory policies. It will develop cooperative programs and promote technologies to enhance end-use efficiency with special emphasis on the "last mile" distribution and utilization of electricity in urban and rural networks. It will also conduct cooperation on clean coal preparation and modern coal conversion systems in power generation.

The Coal Working Group will promote the efficient and environmentally responsible use of coal. Its activities will be designed to enhance the understanding of coal-related energy issues and promote the exchange of information on policies, programs, and technologies with special emphasis on coal utilization for power generation and clean fuels production. The Working Group met in July and agreed on future activities.

The New Technology and Renewable Energy Working group will promote the development and deployment of clean, new and renewable energy and technologies leading to enhanced energy security and stable energy markets that will support desired levels of economic growth with appropriate concern for the environment.

The Civil Nuclear Working Group will foster exchanges between the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and India’s Department of Atomic Energy and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board on each country’s peaceful nuclear energy-related initiatives, including national practices, research interests, approaches to regulatory oversight and views of the role of nuclear energy in meeting global energy requirements. These exchanges may include discussions on peaceful applications of fusion science and related fundamental research topics.