Speeches & Articles

Welcome Address by
CONSUL GENERAL BETH A. PAYNE
at
REGIONAL CLEAN COAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
organized by
South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/E), USAID
ITC Sonar Bangla
September 16

September 16, 2008

Mr. Bhattacharya, Chairman and Managing Director, Coal India Limited
Mr. Padmanaban, Director SARI/Energy
Mr. Mike Ellis, Chief of party, PA Consulting Group Inc.
Distinguished speakers, participants, friends, ladies and gentlemen
“Nomoskar” 

It is indeed a great honor and pleasure to welcome you to the Regional Clean Coal Partnership Program organized under the aegis of the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/Energy) Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

I would like to thank the guests, speakers and participants for taking time out from their busy schedules to participate in this very important event.  The event assumes additional significance since it is SARI/E’s maiden effort to advance the clean coal agenda as an important strategic initiative to promote energy security in the region.

We are very fortunate to have with us several eminent speakers and delegates, both from the region as well as globally, who have rich experience on a wide range of issues related to the coal sector and its role in climate change and regional energy security.  I am sure their contributions will make this program a grand success, and that all of you will benefit from the mutual sharing of knowledge, information, and experiences. 

A special welcome to my colleagues from other USG agencies, specifically from the US Dept. of Energy in Washington D.C., and the US Embassy in Delhi.  Thank you for being with us today and sharing your experiences. 

The city of Kolkata is an appropriate choice to host this regional workshop.  Kolkata is home to India’s coal industry, the headquarters of Coal India, and it is in close proximity to the coal fields of Bengal and Bihar which has over 70% of the country’s coal resources. 

This regional event is also coming at the perfect time.  Today most South Asian countries are confronted with enormous energy challenges.  These challenges must be met in order to expand economic activities and to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth.s  Many of the South Asian countries are net energy importers and are quite earnest in their desire to explore the prospects and potential for accelerating the development of indigenous energy resources.

It is in this context that the development and efficient mining of the region’s coal resources and its conversion to useful energy forms through clean, sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies, assumes paramount significance.  There are coal reserves in this region, particularly in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, and it stands to reason that coal, if mined efficiently and utilized cleanly, can   augment regional energy security.

In this context, the coal sector presents considerable opportunities.  With these opportunities come several challenges.  Countries can best tackle these challenges by sharing  experiences and lessons learned in the areas of enhancing coal mine productivity, coal industry regulation, coal quality optimization, introducing environmentally sound coal mining practices, and clean coal technologies for power generation.

While the countries in this region are at varying stages of coal resource development, mining, and utilization, they all have something to teach each other.  India, as the world’s fourth largest producer of coal, is the regional leader in coal mining, coal preparation and usage.  Over the past few decades, India has developed  a growing and successful coal mining and coal power program through organizations such as Coal India Limited, and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).  We are fortunate indeed to have Mr. P.S. Bhattacharya, Chairman Coal India, at this inaugural function to share with us his perspectives on regional cooperation in coal.

Historically, Pakistan and Bangladesh have used natural gas for electricity generation and have very limited coal power generation.   However, with ever increasing demand for power, these countries are now beginning to turn their attention towards coal.  Sri Lanka plans to establish new power plants using imported coal, and Afghanistan is keen on exploiting its coal reserves to augment its largely diesel and hydro power generation.

So there is a great opportunity for these countries to work collaboratively by learning from one another’s experiences.  This is a win-win proposition for all since such partnerships would not only mitigate national power shortages but will also ensure regional energy security through the establishment of regional cross-border power trade arrangements.  This program is an attempt to identify and initiate these partnership possibilities under a mutually beneficial framework.

The SARI/Energy program has been designed to maximize use of your time in Kolkata and West Bengal by organizing site visits to coal mines, power plants, and to India’s leading national laboratory on coal research at Dhanbad, the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR).

I would also like to take a moment and tell you about our Foreign Commercial Office initiatives in the mining sector.  Next week, our commercial office will lead the largest ever contingent of 40 participants to MINExpo International in Las Vegas.  The show, featuring over 1200 exhibitors this year, is described as "the world's richest deposit of mining technology, products and services", and is organized once every four years.  Special events organized by U.S. Commercial Service such as "India Market Opportunity" session on the opening day will help attract attention of American companies to the Indian market.

We are also delighted to assist in Coal India's efforts to work with U.S. providers of high capacity and sophisticated mining equipment.  Earlier this year, our Commerce office also took a delegation of Coal India officials to Coal Prep Show in Kentucky to encourage American participation in Coal India's upcoming coal beneficiation projects.  In November, we again plan to have a U.S. pavilion featuring new-to-market companies at the International Mining and Machinery Exhibition here in Kolkata.     

I wish you all have very productive discussions during the course of this workshop, and informative programs at the site visits organized after the workshops.  Most of all, I hope you form strong friendships and partnerships that will continue to bear fruit after you return home.

Thank you.