File photo: Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar
NEW DELHI: Union power minister Manohar Lal on Friday underscored the urgency of energy security and pushed for a broader shift towards electricity, as global fossil fuel supplies remain under strain due to the conflict in West Asia.He also called for greater coordination between the Centre and states to ensure affordable and efficient power generation, transmission and distribution.
“Stressing the importance of energy security amid global uncertainties, he underlined the need to enhance per capita energy consumption and accelerate the transition towards renewable energy,” the ministry of power said in a statement. The minister was speaking at a national power ministerial meet held during the Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 in the capital.Amid a squeeze on energy supplies due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the govt has recommended the use of induction plates for cooking.The per capita power consumption in India currently stands at 1,460 kWh (1.5 MWh), much lower than the global average of nearly 3.8 MWh. Developed economies such as Canada (15.5 MWh), the US (12.7 MWh), South Korea (12 MWh), Russia and Japan (8.3 MWh) are far ahead. India has projected annual per capita consumption at 2 MWh by 2030 and over 4 MWh by 2047.On the integration of renewable energy in power generation and consumption, the minister said nuclear energy had emerged as an important source of clean power. He termed the SHANTI Act, which allows private participation in a govt-regulated sector, a significant step towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. As the govt pushes for at least one nuclear power project in each state, Lal assured full support from the Centre in implementing necessary reforms, including legal and administrative measures.Minister of state for new and renewable energy Shripad Naik, who co-chaired the meeting, highlighted the role of technology and Artificial Intelligence in transforming the power sector, citing smart metering as a key example.
