India's Energy and Emission Scenarios out to 2047

Against the background of a large import dependence, and difficulties in making structural shifts within the energy consumption pattern of India, the Indian economy has been facing great hardships on the energy front. The above include depleting foreign exchange reserves to support a large energy import bill, assuring un-interrupted supply of electricity and subsidizing energy to the poor. The other problems associated with dependence on imports include issues of current account deficit, pressures on the exchange rates and volatile international oil/gas/coal prices which threaten the energy security of India. 

• India’s import bill for crude has been rising steadily and was $ 160 billion in the year 2012-13.  Even though India has large coal deposits, due to domestic production being unable to meet the demand, India is now importing more and more coal (including coking coal for industries) to meet the needs of thermal power generation.  It is importing nearly 15% of its total coal needs and this proportion is expected to rise in the future.
•   Similarly, India imported 35% of its natural gas consumption in the year 2012-13, and even this demand is expected to be met increasingly by imports.

The Planning Commission of India developed the Inida Energy Security Scenarios 2047, an online tool available at http://indiaenergy.gov.in to examine the nexus of energy imports, energy poverty, and carbon dioxide emissions.