16th Edition of BCC&I Environment & Energy Conclave, 23rd August 2023, The Lalit, New Delhi
The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry organized a Business Delegation to the Office of Shri Khalid Aizaz Anwar, IAS, Commissioner, Commercial Taxes, Government of West Bengal on 16th August, 2023 to represent GST issues before him. The delegation was led by Mr. Vivek Jalan, Chairperson - Fiscal Affairs & Taxation Committee, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry & Partner, Tax Connect Advisory Services LLP.
Members who joined the Business Delegation were Mr Suresh Gupta, Director, Tirumala Seven Hills Pvt Ltd, Mr. Goutam Sengupta, General Manager – Taxation, Eveready Industries India Limited, Mr. Soumick Das, Manager - Indirect Taxes, Larsen and Tourbo Ltd, Mr Srouta Mukherjee, Sr DGM Indirect Taxes, Exide Industries Limited, Mr Arvind Gupta, Chief Indirect Taxes Centre of Excellence, Tata Steel Ltd, Mr. Debashish Mukherjee, DGM - F&A, M Junction, Mr Vikash Kamani, Chief Financial Officer, UAL Industries Ltd and Mr Bijaya Maharana from Tata Steel Ltd.
The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented the 16th edition of its annual signature Environment & Energy Conclave on 23rd August at The Lalit, New Delhi.
The theme this year was “Energy transition towards Net Zero Target”.
The Conclave featured discussions on:
- Policy Framework
- International Cooperation for Technology and Capacity Building
- Energy efficiency and Renewable Resources – new sources and integration
- Sustainable Approaches and Circular Economy
- Food Energy Water Nexus
- Investment and Financing
Opening Session featured Policy Framework developing economies need to to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. This includes setting ambitious targets, implementing regulations and standards, and providing incentives for renewable energy development, energy efficiency, and sustainable practices. Mr. Gautam Ray, President Designate and Chairperson, Energy Environment Water Committee, BCC&I and Executive Director (HR and Admin), CESC Ltd. and President, HR Group, RPSG and Mr. U K Bhattacharya, Co-Chairperson, Energy Environment Water Committee, BCC&I Director – Projects, NTPC Ltd were present.
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“The world is at a crossroads, facing unprecedented challenges related to climate change, environmental degradation, and energy security. The urgency of addressing these issues has never been more apparent. As business leaders, policymakers, and citizens of this planet, we share a collective responsibility to find sustainable solutions that will secure a better future for the generations to come. Energy transition is at the forefront of this global effort. The transition towards a net-zero carbon economy is not merely a goal; it is an imperative. It is a pathway to mitigate the impacts of climate change, reduce our carbon. However, achieving a net-zero economy requires a collaborative effort involving all stakeholders - from industry leaders to civil society, academia, and government agencies. We need to foster a culture of innovation, research, and development to accelerate the deployment of clean technologies. Furthermore, we must also focus on energy efficiency and conservation. The most sustainable energy is the energy we do not use. By investing in energy-efficient technologies and practices, we can reduce waste, cut costs, and lessen our impact on the environment.” – Mr. Gautam Ray |
“The energy transition towards net zero in India, from the perspective of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), is a complex and multifaceted challenge. PSUs in India play a crucial role in the country's energy sector, as they are responsible for a significant portion of energy production and distribution. The Indian government has set ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. New action plans for synchronizing energy security and development are not only to facilitate growth but to enhance it. The share of carbon space of the country has to be created towards that. The business quadrilemma should include sustainability, affordability, do ability and security. Energy security is next to food security. However, the transition is a complex process that requires a long-term commitment and collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve the country's sustainability goals.” - Mr. U K Bhattacharya |
Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, International Solar Alliance delivered the Keynote Address on “Global Energy Security, Collective Actions and Transition Roadmap”.
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“More global collaborations are needed for energy security. Guarantee funds may pull private sector investors into solar and other renewable sectors. He observed that World Bank may also look into guarantee funding.”said Dr. Ajay Mathur. |
Mr. Vivek Kumar Dewangan, IAS, Chairman & Managing Director, REC Limited addressed on “Powering the last mile”. Mr. Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority addressed on “Powering India’s Growth”.
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“We have been facing shortages in the power sector. In the global scenario we have no option but to transit from where we are right now to start the frame work. The journey has already started, initially there were certain hassles. Right now, we just have the capacity of just four thousand seven hundred megawatts in the country, out of which around 12-13 hundred devices are not operating. We have to start developing the process of solar system.” said Mr. Ghanshyam Prasad. |
This year the Chamber felicitated Dr. Kiran Bedi, Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry for her exemplary work done in Water Harvesting in Puducherry and in Gurugram by her NGO, Navjyoti India Foundation.
The Opening Session also included “International Cooperation for Technology and Capacity Building” which is a major area to achieve net zero target. Global partnerships, climate funds, and multilateral initiatives can provide financial and technical support, capacity building, and policy guidance to facilitate the energy transition.
Key Speakers were:
- Ms. Rebecca Berry, Climate Adviser, British High Commission New Delhi
- Ms. Debra Martin, Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Embassy
Energy efficiency and Renewable Resources – new sources and integration:
The Session focused on Increasing the share of renewable energy which is a crucial aspect of the energy transition. Renewable resources, such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power, are to be explored to meet the energy needs while reducing carbon emissions. This requires investments in renewable energy infrastructure, including power generation, transmission, and distribution system and improving energy efficiency across sectors is a cost-effective way to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Energy Efficiency may be implemented in buildings, industry, transportation, and agriculture. This may involve upgrading infrastructure, adopting energy-efficient technologies, and promoting behavioural changes through awareness campaigns and education.
The Session was moderated by: Mr. Deb A Mukherjee, Former President, BCC&I and Managing Director, Cenergist Energy Private Limited.
The Speakers in this Session were:
- Mr. Asim Prasad, CGM-CSPA, GAIL (India) Limited
- Mr. Promod Singh, President- Regulatory and Commercial, India Power Corporation Limited
- Ms Shaila Lee, Global VP – HR, Husk Power Systems
- Mr. Sourav Daspatnaik, Managing Director, Swach Environment Limited
- Mr. Sudip Nag, Executive Director, NTPC Limited
Sustainable Approaches and Circular Economy:
The Session focused on principles of the circular economy to promote resource efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, and sustainable production and consumption patterns. A holistic approach can minimize environmental impacts and contribute to the overall sustainability of the economy.
The Session was moderated by Ms. Devyani Hari, Director, Centre for Responsible Business (CRB)
The Speakers in this Session were:
- Ms. Pallavi Ahuja, SME Climate Hub (joined online)
- Dr. Debalina Sengupta, Coastal Resilience Program Director, Texas Sea Grant at Texas A & M University ( joined online)
- Ms. Pavithra Mohanraj, Independent Expert ( joined online)
- Ms. Kritika Chauhan, Shahi Exports
Food Energy Water Nexus:
The Session focused on transition to net zero demands that we address the complexities in food systems that are interconnected with water, energy, forestry, and biodiversity. Water, food and energy form a nexus at the heart of sustainable development and critical to rural livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and gender and social inclusion. Agriculture is the largest consumer of the world’s freshwater resources, and water is used to produce most forms of energy.
The Session was moderated by: Mr Vinay Jaju, MD, SwitchON Foundation
Two promising Start ups of Webel-BCC&I Tech Incubation Centre were showcased in this Session:
- Mr Arjun Dutta, Founder, Greenlife IQ Ponics on Precision Aquaponics Empowered by DataMr. Muralidhar Seelam, Founder, Kheti Samajh on Sustainable Way of Farming
Key Speakers in this Session were:
- Mr. Atin Tyagi, Head- ESG, Sustainability and Carbon Projects, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. (joined online)
- Mr. Samrat Mukherjee, Chief Operating Officer, NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS)
Investment and financing:
The Session focused on the energy transition that requires significant investments in clean energy infrastructure, research and development, and capacity building. Combination of domestic and international financing sources, including public-private partnerships, green bonds, climate funds, and international cooperation mechanisms may be leveraged to mobilize the necessary financial resources.
The Session was moderated by: Mr. Deb A Mukherjee, Former President, BCC&I and Managing Director, Cenergist Energy Private Limited.
Key Speakers in this Session were:
- Mr. Jae Hyung Kwon, Head of South Asia, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency , WORLD BANK GROUP
- Mr. Vaibhav Singh, Executive Director – Energy | Management Consulting, PwC India
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