News: India and EU discuss energy cooperation

(PTI 07/04/2006) New Delhi - India and European Union will set up a working group on cooperation in hydrocarbons under the ambit of India-EU Energy Panel, as part of steps to intensify bilateral cooperation in energy sector.

"The second meeting of the Panel reviewed the functioning of three working groups that were set up last year... a fourth group would be set up for development of hydrocarbon markets," said, EU Energy commissioner, Andris Pielbags.

Asked what would be the EU policy for nuclear cooperation with India, Piebalgs said Europe was looking at the debate in the US Congress over the India-US nuclear cooperation pact and stressed that "the basic condition is non-proliferation".

"Some member states have a lot of interest in India's nuclear programmes while some others are not very interested," he added.

The Panel, which had its first meeting in Brussels in June 2005, discussed issues of energy security, promotion of renewable sources and energy efficient technologies.

The three working groups relate to energy efficiency, renewable energies, coal and clean coal technologies and fusion energy, which is discussing India's membership in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project.