US Energy Secretary to visit India for enhancing energy cooperation

Washington, Mar 17 (UNI) US Energy Secretary Samuel W Bodman will travel to New Delhi and Mumbai next week to highlight the ongoing cooperation between the United States and India to advance global energy security.

He will hold bilateral discussions with senior Indian officials and US 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, he will also highlight the nations' partnership in civil nuclear energy that, once finalised, 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.

He will begin his three-day trip in New Delhi where he will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and senior Indian officials from the Ministry of Power, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Indian Planning Commission.

Mr 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 US business leaders.

On Wednesday, he will deliver remarks encouraging regional energy integration at the Annual South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Conference.

Mr 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.

In Mumbai, he will participate in a roundtable discussion with Indian venture capitalists at a Confederation of Indian Industries breakfast. He will discuss how venture capital can play a key role in bringing new clean energy technologies to the marketplace.

Secretary Bodman will also meet Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission to discuss the nations' international cooperation on civil nuclear energy and nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

UNI