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The Director-General of TERI, Dr R.K. Pachauri, exchanging documents with the Secretary-General, International Energy Forum, Saudi Arabia, Dr Arne Walther, after signing an MoU in the presence of the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, in the Capital on Wednesday. — Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , July 27

THE Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Riyadh-based International Energy Forum Secretariat (IEFS) on Wednesday inked a memorandum of understanding to promote global and sustainable energy development.

Dr R.K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI, and Mr Arne Walther, Secretary General, IEFS, signed the agreement in the presence of the Petroleum Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar.

Mr Aiyar said that it is important to bring international experience to the Indian domestic sector.

The need of the hour is to first optimise the output of the country's own resources, then look out.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will specially focus on issues and activities related to energy security, efficient energy use and the links between energy, environment and economic development, mainly in Asian context. Keeping in view the increasing prominence of energy security concerns, TERI had recently set up a Centre for Research on Energy Security. The mission of the IEFS is to support and enhance dialogue between energy consuming and producing countries at the Ministers' level within the framework of the International Energy Forum. IEFS had earlier this month signed a similar agreement with the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

Mr Walther said, "It is difficult, indeed, to imagine an area where nations are more interdependent than in the confluence of energy, environment and economic development." Dr Pachauri reiterated the importance of energy security for India and added that the country has to look beyond its shores for ensuring economic security, which is critically dependant on security of energy supply.

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