India must become clean energy tech global producer: Union Minister Kumaraswamy
New Delhi, August 6
Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday asserted that the definition of energy security has undergone a fundamental transformation, stating that national strength in today's evolving global landscape depends on manufacturing resilience and tech supply chains rather than simple resource access.
Delivering a keynote speech at the Special Plenary Session on "Energy Security & Supply Chains" at the 7th CII International Energy Conference & Exhibition in New Delhi, the Minister outlined India's strategy to emerge as a global hub for clean technologies. He emphasized that industrial capability and energy security are now fundamentally linked.
"Today, under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's energy security is no longer defined solely by access to energy resources. It is increasingly determined by our ability to manufacture, innovate and build resilient supply chains for the technologies that will power the future," the Minister said.
Kumaraswamy noted that recent geopolitical disruptions and competition over critical minerals have shifted industrial priorities worldwide. He explained that India is responding through the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat by establishing competitive domestic capabilities while staying connected to global value chains.
"India should not merely become one of the world's largest consumers of clean energy technologies. India must become one of the world's leading producers of the equipment, materials and technologies that will drive the global energy transition," he said.
Highlighting the crucial role of Heavy Industries and Steel, Kumaraswamy described steel as the central pillar of the clean energy transition, pointing out that renewable infrastructure, battery factories, and hydrogen projects rely directly on steel. He noted that as the world's second-largest producer, India is well positioned to meet its expanding domestic needs while addressing global demand for sustainable steel. He reaffirmed the national target of reaching 300 million tonnes of steelmaking capacity by 2030 through eco-friendly practices.
"Steel has become the backbone of the global energy transition. The future of the steel sector will not be defined only by production capacity but by sustainability, competitiveness and technological advancement," he remarked.
The Minister detailed key central initiatives driving this industrial shift, including the PM E-DRIVE Scheme with an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore to build complete electric mobility ecosystems, and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell Batteries, committing Rs 18,100 crore for 50 GWh of battery capacity. He also pointed to the Rs 7,280 crore scheme for manufacturing Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets to secure critical mineral supply chains.
"Our objective is to build complete domestic manufacturing ecosystems that create value and generate employment. This is the essence of resilient supply chains in the twenty-first century," he said.
The Union Minister urged industry, academia, and financial institutions to join hands with the government to advance national self-reliance and support long-term economic development goals.
"I invite industry and all stakeholders to come forward and work with the Government to make India Aatmanirbhar and realise the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047," the Minister said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to hear about the PLI schemes and the focus on batteries and rare earth magnets. But I hope these initiatives actually reach the ground level. We've seen many announcements before that didn't translate into jobs on the factory floor. Let's see some concrete results.
Interesting perspective from New Delhi. The linkage between steel production and clean energy infrastructure is often overlooked in the West. India's 300 million tonne steel target is ambitious, but it's good to see sustainability being built into that goal from the start.
The Rs 10,900 crore for E-DRIVE and Rs 18,100 crore for battery cells is serious money. But we also need to focus on the skill development of our youth so they can work in these new-age industries. Manufacturing isn't just about machines, it's about people. 👷♀️
Aatmanirbhar Bharat in clean energy is the only way forward. For too long we've depended on imports for electronics and energy tech. If we can crack the manufacturing of solar wafers and lithium batteries here, it'll be a game-changer for our economy and our security.
As someone working in global supply chains, I appreciate this nuanced view. The focus on "resilient supply chains" post-COVID is wise. India has a real opportunity to diversify global manufacturing away from over-reliance on any single country, and this policy direction seems to acknowledge that.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.