India, Japan set plans for energy efficiency

NEW DELHI: India and Japan on Monday agreed to set individual goals and voluntary action plans to improve energy efficiency and increase co-operation in the development of renewable sources.

"Based on the 'Cebu Declaration on Energy Security in East Asia' adopted at the Second East Asia Summit, both sides agreed to set individual goals and formulate action plans voluntarily for improving energy efficiency," a joint statement issued at the end of the second meeting of the India-Japan energy dialogue said.

India and Japan will explore ways and means to further cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy sources, said the statement singed by Japanese Trade Minister Akira Amari and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

The Indo-Japan energy cooperation does not involve development of nuclear energy sources, clarified Ahluwalia while addressing media alongwith Amari.

The two countries, however, underlined the need for increasing cooperation among private and public business operators for promoting clean development mechanism (CDM) projects based on Kyoto Protocol.

At the conclusion of the Indo-Japan energy dialogue, the Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI) and the Institute of Energy Economics of Japan (IEEJ) signed an MoU to undertake research and study on energy challenges in the world in general, and India and Japan in particular.