The Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (UCCIL) in association with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) had conducted a joint workshop on the theme “Greening India Through Renewables” on 15th May, 2022, Sunday evening at 6.00 PM, in the designated venue, Hotel Swosti Premium, Bhubaneswar.
Shri Brahma Mishra, President, UCCIL who presided over the workshop, in his address, said that Odisha is the largest producer of Steel and Aluminum and that has resulted in the burning of coal in these industries. This makes Odisha the second largest carbon emitting state in the country, standing at 13%. Our state has produced 40 million tons steel, 3.4 million tons aluminum by 2021-22. The targeted production by 2030 will be 1000 million ton steel and 10 million tons aluminum. At this rate now, Green House Gas emission or release would be 3 times higher as the requirement of electricity would go up by 3 times. Hence its an urgent requirement that the carbon release be reduced considerably by shifting focus to and by giving top most priority for viable use of renewable energy. In this regard he also put forward a memorandum to IREDA proposing facilitation of more and economic generation of renewable energy in Odisha. He also reiterated the pledges taken in all the international climate conventions and green globalization resolutions that we could restrain global warming and stop the untimely destruction of the mother earth by shifting our utilitarian habits to renewable sources of energy like solar, water and air. IREDA also agreed to sign a memorandum with UCCIL in this context for a joint venture.
The Chief Guest, Honorable Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly Dr. Surjya Narayan Patro, deliberated his concern in a highly compassionate tone. He said that we burn 1 kg coal to produce 1 unit of electricity. In this proportion and in this rate, we so dangerously deplete the natural resources of the earth that are clearly non-renewable that we are pushing our homes, our state, our country, our continent, our whole globe to a devastating apocalypse.
The keynote speaker Shri Pradip Kumar Das, CMD, IREDA highlighted the commitment of IREDA towards development of Renewable Energy projects in all states including Odisha. After opening of branch office in Bhubaneswar, IREDA has sanctioned Rs. 693.15 Crore and disbursed Rs. 354.47 Crore. While highlighting the historic financial performances in the last 2 FYs, he highlighted the historic results could be possible due to the collective effort of all the departments of IREDA. He also highlighted that IREDA published its audited financials by 30th April 2022 i.e., only within 30 days from March ending. Teamwork Honesty, transparency, and a robust IT system are the key factors behind such extraordinary achievements. After he took over as CMD they opened an office in Odisha last year in August and the highest profit has been obtained by IREDA during the same FY. Hence it is self-evident that the contribution of the state is vital in this regard.
Theme presentation of the workshop was delivered by Shri Chintan Navinbhai Shah, Director (Technical), IREDA who gave a detailed explanation of the scheme with data and statistics. He declared that Odisha state has a still higher potential in hydro electricity generation and can invite and attract even bigger investment in this direction. Apart from this, the solar power generation scope is extremely high in the state. Since many places and villages in Odisha are still difficult to approach or reach it hinders the connectivity of these places with the main grid. Hence IREDA has initiated setting up of small power grids to enable uninterrupted power supply. He confirmed that IREDA has approved and sanctioned loans to the tune of Rs. 120000 crore and disbursed Rs.80000 crores for renewal resource tapping and utilization across the country.
Finally, Sri Ashok Kumar Sharda, Vice President (Commerce), UCCIL gave the vote of thanks and complemented IREDA and all the industry partners and the stakeholders for making the workshop hugely successful this evening.
