Seminar on the Energy Scenario In a Consumer Driven India

Chandigarh, November 15, 2018: The Department of Geology, Panjab University(PU), Chandigarh under the aegis of the ONGC Chair, organized an interactive one-day Workshop-cum-Seminar on “The Energy Scenario in a Consumer Driven India” with a view to highlight the potential and the constraints on the three major sources of energy i.e. Nuclear Energy, Hydrocarbon Energy and Non-conventional Energy.
Prof. Raj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, PU in his inaugural address emphasised on the impact of energy exploration and exploitation on the environment and society. He also advocated that an integrated approach should be taken to deal with energy use in a sustainable and holistic manner. One should think about the last consumer in the societal chain, he added.
Prof. Ashok Sahni introduced the theme of the workshop to the audience on the increasing requirement of energy in the coming decades by India. He also introduced the various resource persons of the workshop.
Dr. C.M. Nautial, Consultant INSA presented seminar on bouquet of different energy sources and the present day scenario of energy consumption vis-a-vis climate change.
Shri Vishal Kapoor from the Ministry of Power, Govt. of India focussed his lecture on managing electricity needs of India through demand side management. He expressed that by 2040, 30% of electricity consumption demand in India is going to increase.
Dr. S.K.Malhotra, Raja Ramanna Fellow, Department of Atomic Energy discussed the present day scenario of nuclear energy in India and compared the safety of nuclear energy to other sources of energy such as coal, petroleum, gas hydrates and geo-thermal energy.
Dr. Y. Ramesh Chandra from ONGC discussed the shale gas scenario in India where it occurs and how it is being retrieved. He also compared the various techniques involved in exploration and extraction of shale gas.
Dr. Kalachand Sein, Head Scismic Division, NGRI, Hyderabad presented the latest developments on gas hydrates and proposed the future prospects of this from important resources available within Indian reservoirs. While discussing the gas hydrates scenario, he informed the audience that what are the signatures of these gas hydrates been found in Krishna Godavari Mahanadi and Andaman Basin.
Dr. Ritesh Arya, Director, Arya Driller Chandigarh discussed the geo-thermal potential of India and why no progress has been made yet on exploiting this very important resource in spite of the fact geo-thermal energy is being widely used in the West.