Geothermal Energy Gathers Steam in India

Geothermal energy is getting popular among the Indian energy companies and government policymakers. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had commissioned a research, development and demonstration program involving geothermal energy. The program aimed at locating the potential geothermal energy exploration sites in several states across the country.

The program covered states like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Many of these states have confirmed the identification of geothermal potential sites. Some of the most active geothermal sites are believed to be located in Jammu & Kashmir with significant resources potentially present in Himachal Pradesh and in central India.Geothermal energy is getting popular among the Indian energy companies and government policymakers. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had commissioned a research, development and demonstration program involving geothermal energy. The program aimed at locating the potential geothermal energy exploration sites in several states across the country. More >>>

France signs deal with India to supply nuclear power stations

$9.2bn contract with Areva to equip site south of Mumbai 

Two years after reaching agreement with India on the supply of six European pressurised reactors (EPRs), Areva has signed a series of contracts with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) for the construction of two 1,650-MW reactors.

"India has little experience in the field of civilian nuclear power, which entails a large amount of technical preparation and lengthy negotiations," an Areva engineer said. The power stations should be in operation by 2020, at a cost of $9.2bn.

Until 2008 there was an embargo on sales of civilian nuclear technology to India, but it is now the fourth country to purchase Areva EPRs, after France, Finland and China. 

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Climate Change and ‘Balanced’ Coverage

In an article this week on the relentless rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, I outlined one of the canonical projections of climate science: if the amount of carbon dioxide doubles, the average surface temperature of the earth is likely to increase by 5 or 6 degrees Fahrenheit, a whopping change. I contrasted that with a prediction from skeptics of climate change who contend that the increase is likely to be less than 2 degrees.

One major voice on climate science, Richard B. Alley of the Pennsylvania State University, told me he gets annoyed by the way this contrast is often presented in news accounts. The higher estimate is often put forward as a worst case, he pointed out, while the skeptic number is presented as the best case.

In fact, as Dr. Alley reminds anyone who will listen, and as he recently told aCongressional committee, the estimate of 5 or 6 degrees is actually mildly optimistic. Computer programs used to forecast future climate show it as the most likely outcome from a doubling of carbon dioxide, but those programs also show substantial probabilities that the warming will be much greater. More >>>

Water Insecurity In Himalayas: Emerging Tensions And Lessons For ASEAN

Climate Change is triggering water insecurity in the Greater Himalayan region, raising new sources of tension that may embroil India and China in future conflict. These emerging tensions need to be  managed. There are also lessons for ASEAN.

GLOBAL WARMING is melting glaciers in the Himalayan mountains — the “Water Tower of Asia”. The region is the common source of major rivers that flow into at least four countries — China, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Climate change is also causing drought and disruption to the flows of these rivers, leading to the displacement of people downstream and triggering migration from Bangladesh into India. Indeed, India has even built a border fence to stem the flow of the “climate refugees”. More >>>

BP Sells Pakistan Operations

LONDON— Dec 14 2010 - BP PLC's total asset sales this year rose to almost $22 billion as the company agreed to sell its oil and natural-gas assets in Pakistan to United Energy Group for $775 million in cash. BP will use the proceeds of the sales to cover the estimated $40-billion cost of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

"Today's agreement is further evidence of the rapid progress BP has made toward the divestment target we set out last summer," of $25 billion to $30 billion, BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley said in a written statement. "We are continuing to identify further assets More >>>

Melting Glaciers Cause Droughts, Floods; Norway Helps Himalayas

The valley of Chitral has always looked to the 

glaciers of Tirich Mir for water.  (Photo by Amina Tariq)

CANCUN, Mexico, December 7, 2010 (ENS) - Climate change is causing mass loss of glaciers in high mountains worldwide. Within a few decades, melting glaciers could leave arid areas such as Central Asia and parts of the Andes even drier as the ice melts into water and flows downhill, causing disastrous floods in the lowlands, finds a new report by the UN Environment Programme presented today at the UN climate talks in Cancun.
Compiled by UNEP's Polar Research Centre GRID-Arendal and experts from research centers in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America, the report says the larger glaciers may take centuries to disappear but many low-lying, smaller glaciers, which are often crucial water sources in dry lands, are melting much faster.

Glacial melt will change the lives of millions as over half of theworld's population lives in watersheds of major rivers originating in mountains with glaciers and snow.
Glaciers in Argentina and Chile, followed by those in Alaska and its coastal mountain ranges, have been losing mass faster and for longer than glaciers in other parts of the world, finds the report, "High Mountain Glaciers and Climate Change - Challenges to Human Livelihoods and Adaptation." More >>>

Former Afghan spy chief slams Taliban talks

Thursday, December 9, 2010 WASHINGTON -- Peace talks with the Taliban will lead to disaster unless the insurgent group is disarmed first, Afghanistan's former intelligence chief said Thursday. 

Amrullah Saleh, who headed Afghanistan's spy agency from 2004 until earlier this year, said the key to peace with the Taliban is cutting off their support from Pakistan and disarming and dismantling the group before allowing them to operate as a normal political party.

"Demobilize them, disarm them, take their headquarters out of the Pakistani intelligence's basements," Saleh said. "Force the Taliban to play according to the script of democracy," he added, predicting the party would ultimately fail, "in a country where law rules, not the gun ... not the law of intimidation." More >>>

Germany backs India for NSG membership

New Delhi:  Germany on Monday backed India's bid to gain membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), applauding this country's "excellent" non-proliferation track record. 

German Ambassador Thomas Mattusek told reporters that India not being a party to the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will not be an issue for his country's support to India's candidacy to the elite nuclear club like the 45-nation NSG, though it would like New Delhi to be a signatory to the controversial Treaty.

"We will give support for India for its NSG membership...even without India not becoming a NPT signatory," he added.

"We value India's commitment to non-proliferation. We appreciate its track record despite not being a party to NPT." he said. More >>>

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/germany-backs-india-for-nsg-membership-70943?cp

Sophisticated Explosive Device Hits Iranian Academics

"The United States, the Zionist regime (Israel) and Britain are the main elements behind this criminal move," IRNA quoted Qazipour as saying on Wednesday. 
The Iranian parliamentarian cited enemies' despair and weakness as the reason behind the terrorist attacks on two Iranian lecturers that were targeted by unknown assailants while on their way to Shahid Beheshti University in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Monday.

Yet unidentified terrorists attached explosives to the vehicles of Dr. Majid Shahriari and Professor Fereydoun Abbasi in different locations on Monday morning. Shahriari was killed immediately after a blast, but Abbasi and his wife escaped the bombing with minor injuries. More >>>

Looking at the picture above it would appear that the EOD was a small shaped charge designed to only kill the driver, not your average insurgent’s work. Editor