23th April, 2002
Ministry of Power  


SEQUENCING OF POWER REFORMS – KEY TO SUCCESS: SURESH PRABHU


The Minister of Power, Shri Suresh Prabhu said here today that the sequencing of reforms in the power sector was the key to bringing about a turnaround. Shri Prabhu was speaking while inaugurating the India Energy Meet on Technologies-Trading-Training organised by the India Energy Forum. The Minister referred to the telecom model and said the telecom revolution in India today has taken place because the system was first cleaned up through proper application of technology and through proper sequencing of reforms. The Power Minister said before competition is introduced in the power sector, its functioning has to be put in order and technology would play a key role in this. The Minister said that he has already created a group in his Ministry on technology. Upgradation of power generation technology needs to be focused on, he said. This would include clean coal technologies as India will have to use coal as a source for power generation for a long time to come.

Shri Prabhu stressed that new and better technologies are needed badly in the distribution sub sector to prevent thefts. The Minister said one of his immediate steps as Power Minister was to identify the objectives of power reforms. These are elimination of thefts, improvement in quality of power, reduction in power tariff and increase in power generation. Shri Prabhu said all state governments are being impressed upon to step up reforms and to improve governance in the power sector.

The India Energy Meet was also addressed by the Secretary Power, Shri R.V.Shahi, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Mr.Heimo Richter, Shri P.S.Bami President, India Energy Forum, Ms.Edith Marx, Director Energy Programmes Carl Duisberg Gersselschaft E.V (CDG).