Speeches and Remarks 2006

Remarks by USAID Mission Director George Deikun at South Asia Conference on Renewable Energy 2006

Hotel Le Meridien
New Delhi, April 18, 2006

As prepared for delivery

Good morning. I am honored to be here today at the first South Asia Renewable Energy Summit.  I would like to extend a warm welcome to those who have joined us today including His Excellency Mr. Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, State Minister, Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources, Government of Bangladesh and Mr. Rakesh Bakshi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Managing Director, Vestas RRB India, Ltd. and Mr. Anil K. Agarwal, President, ASSOCHAM, the organizers of this event.

The link between energy and broad-based economic growth is clear.  Agriculture, manufacturing, shops, trading, transportation, and construction are all engines of economic growth and all require energy to function efficiently.  The productivity of these activities increases significantly with the use of modern and reliable energy sources.  Without stable energy supplies economic growth and social development are constrained.

In the United States, we have seen that the adoption of renewable energy technologies can help meet our growing need for energy, address concerns of energy security and protect the environment. The United States Agency for International Development -- USAID -- is committed to working with the governments and the private sector of the countries of South Asia to advance renewable energy technologies.  The pace of renewable energy development must quicken.  Financial and institutional models that allow communities to gain better access to energy supplies and services must be developed and shared.

We are proud to be associated with the efforts of SAARC countries to work together to share information, explore opportunities and structure activities that will advance renewable energy technologies. We share a common desire to promote sustainable energy use and to protect the environment.  The goal of developing sources of renewable energy has guided some of our past initiatives undertaken in the countries of the region. USAID's South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy - SARI/Energy - has been working in this important area for the past five years.

Over these five years, wind and solar maps and project planning toolkits have been developed for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.  They are now under development for Afghanistan and Pakistan.  We have created a network of institutions and individuals within South Asia to help disseminate training and best market and technology practices for energy efficiency, distribution reform and  renewable energy development.  The SARI/Energy small grants program has transferred successful models and technologies from one country to another within the region.  Through these efforts we have worked with the SAARC countries to bring energy to hundreds of communities throughout South Asia. 

USAID's history of working in the energy sector here in India goes back to the 1960's.  As a part of this cooperation we have worked to advance renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass and hydro and to demonstrate co-generation opportunities in sectors as diverse as sugar processing and cement manufacturing.  Many of our early successes in advancing renewable energy were in collaboration with the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) — one of the sponsors of this gathering. 

Under the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue our two countries have formed a working group to promote research and development and eventual deployment of renewable energy technologies.  This group is led by MNES and the U.S. Department of Energy.  This is an important step towards achieving a more balanced and environmentally friendly energy mix for India and other countries in this region. 

Since coal will remain a primary source of electricity generation in both India and the United States, we will continue working under the Indo-U.S. Energy Dialogue to promote clean coal technology.  A successful outcome of this dialogue is India's recent announcement that it will join the United States in developing the world's first zero-emission coal-fired power plant under the FutureGen Initiative.

We must not understate the critical role that the private sector has to play in advancing both clean coal and renewable energy technologies.  Just two weeks back here in New Delhi, USAID launched a public private partnership with General Electric Company in association with Winrock International India.  Through several pilots, this public-private initiative will bring clean, distributed energy to rural areas in India that currently lack access to electricity. Such partnerships with the private sector help to introduce new technologies and management expertise and provide access to financing. 

The U.S. and the countries of South Asia have a history of working together in energy, the environment, and economic growth.  We are working with countries in the region to meet our increased energy needs while mitigating the environmental impact of energy generation — particularly climate change by reducing greenhouse gases.  A diversified energy portfolio with a strong renewable energy component can better ensure a sustainable energy economy while helping to preserve a clean environment.

USAID shares the vision of SAARC countries -- the energy sector is vital to economic growth and the deployment of clean technologies can help to balance economic development with environmental protection.  USAID's efforts to promote regional energy cooperation through SARI/Energy and our work in the energy sector in India and other countries of this region underscore this principle.  We are confident that the recent formation of the SAARC Energy Center demonstrates a commitment to regional energy cooperation.  The activities of the SAARC Energy Working Group are commendable, ambitious and on the right track to build a foundation for regional energy security.  A part of this foundation will no doubt include plans for renewable energy development.  We hope that this two-day summit will inform the SAARC Energy Working Group and will open up new avenues for renewable energy cooperation among SAARC countries.

We are pleased to be associated with this event and I hope that the discussion today and tomorrow will help to promote clean energy development in South Asia.

Thank you.