Indian High Commission Celebrates National Day
By Azaraimy HH

Bandar Seri Begawan - A flag-hoisting ceremony was held yesterday morning at the High Commission of India's Chancery at "Baitussyifaa" in Jalan Sungai Akar to mark India's Independence Day.

The event began with the hoisting of the national flag by Indian High Commissioner in Brunei Mr Butshikan Singh, followed by the singing of the national anthem and the reading of Indian President DrAPJAbdul Kalam's message to his nationals by the high commissioner.

Among those present were Indian nationals and businessmen as well as friends of India.

The message conveyed by the Indian president yesterday included India's plan to tackle issues on rain, floods, earthquakes forecast and "Earth System Science".

He also emphasised on energy independence, environmental challenges and energy security.

"Energy independence has to be our nation's first and highest priority. We must be determined to achieve this within the next 25 years, that is, by the year 2030," he said.

He also touched on minimising fossil fuel imports and plans for solar farms, nuclear energy, power through municipal waster, and the use of bio fuels in the transportation sector.

"We have nearly 60 million hectares of wasteland, 30 million of which are available for `energy plantations' like Jatropha. Once grown, the crops have a life span of 50 years.

Each acre will produce about two tonnes of bio-diesel at about Rs. 20 per litre," he added.

He went on to say that "India has the potential of making nearly 60 million tonnes of bio-fuel annually, thus making a significant and important contribution to the vision of energy independence".

By 2020, he said, India should achieve comprehensive energy security through the enhancement of oil and gas exploration and production worldwide. By 2030, India should achieve energy independence through solar power and other forms of renewable energy, maximise the utilisation of hydro and nuclear power, and enhance bio-fuel production through large-scale energy plantations like Jatropha. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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