Tag: keen

Nepal keen to sign 25-year electricity deal with India: Report

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Kathmandu: Nepal is keen to sign a 25-year agreement with India on selling its surplus power to the neighbouring country during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s expected visit to New Delhi.
Though the official date of Prachanda’s visit to India is yet to be announced, the Kathmandu Post newspaper, quoting Nepali officials, reported on Sunday that the prime minister is likely to travel to New Delhi after the second week of April.
However, the two sides have yet to announce the dates, it said.

“We are preparing a proposal for the Indian side on the 25-year agreement. But a lot also depends on whether the Indian side agrees to include our proposal in the agenda,” the report quoted a senior official at the energy ministry as saying.
Dinesh Ghimire, secretary at the ministry, said the issue of the long-term inter-governmental agreement was under discussion at the ministry but was yet to be forwarded to Nepal’s foreign ministry to make it an agenda item ahead of the prime minister’s trip.
He said such an agreement can be signed only if the Indian side gives its nod at the bureaucratic level before Prachanda reaches New Delhi, the report said.
Nepal proposed such a deal during the 10th secretary-level meeting of the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on Energy Cooperation in India in late February.
“During the meeting, it was decided that Nepal would make a proposal which India would examine,” said Prabal Adhikari, power trade director at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), who was also in the Nepali delegation.

At the JSC meeting in Mount Abu, Rajasthan in February, Nepal and India inked an agreement to increase the power import and export capacity through the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line from 600 megawatts to 800 megawatts.
An agreement to import and export 70 to 80 MW of electricity from Tanakpur-Mahendranagar 132 KV (kilovolt) power transmission was also signed between the two sides.
They agreed to set up the necessary mechanisms to export power from Nepal to Bihar during the rainy season through the existing 132 KV transmission line.
Currently, Nepal is allowed to sell 452.6 MW of electricity generated by 10 hydropower projects in the Indian power markets. The Himalayan nation awaits approval for more projects from Indian authorities to export electricity.
Adhikari said an inter-government agreement could also pave the way for selling power to India irrespective of whether a third country has invested or is involved in a particular project.
Currently, India has been refusing to buy electricity from projects that involve Chinese investors or contractors, the report said.
Nepal produces surplus energy during the wet (summer) season while it has to buy electricity from India during the dry (winter) season.
NEA Managing Director Kul Man Ghising believes the country will be self-sufficient in hydropower even during the dry season by 2026.
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#Nepal #keen #sign #25year #electricity #deal #India #Report
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 2, 2023
Parliamentarians Show Keen Interest In JK’s Lithium Reserves

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SRINAGAR: Parliamentarians across the country have shown keen interest in recently discovered Lithium mines in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the proceedings of the parliament, which resumed after recess on Monday, many parliamentarians asked questions in the house related to Lithium mines and Government of India’s strategy to utilize its full potential.
BJP’s MP Jugalji Mathurji Thakor, Brij Lal and Trinamool Congress party’s Jawhar Sircar among many others asked the government to share the plan to utilize lithium extract in optimum manner and timeline for extraction of Lithium.
The house also sought the viability to undertake the mining of said reserves and a plan outlined for the same with its timeline.
The government in series of replies maintained that Geological Survey of India (GSI) carried out a G3 stage project during Field Season 2020-21 and 2021-22 in Salal Haimna areas of Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir following which estimated an inferred resource (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore and the report has been handed over to the Government of Union Territory of JK.
“Geological Survey of India (GSI) generates baseline geoscience data through mapping, e.g. geological, geochemical, geophysical which is a prerequisite for identifying the potential area for systematic mineral exploration. Based on the mapping data, GSI carries out systematic mineral exploration activities for various major mineral commodities including lithium,” the government said in the parliament.
“In part of Jammu and Kashmir, as a follow up of lithium exploration in Salal-Haimna areas of Reasi district, GSI has taken up another reconnaissance G4 stage exploration programme on lithium and associated mineral in Panasa – Dugga – Baldhanun – Chakar – Sangarmarg (Saro-da-Bas) area of Reasi district during current field season 2022-23 and the work is in progress,” the reply reads, adding, “Based on the mapping outcome more exploration programme on various mineral commodities including lithium will be taken up in future in different parts of the country including Jammu and Kashmir.”
On the exact valuation of the mine block and its potential, the government said that the mineral block will be auctioned as Composite License (CL) by the Government of Union Territory of JK. The financial aviability will be determined after auctioning by the successful bidder.

The date of extraction of lithium will depend upon successful auction of the mineral block.
However, sources said that the government is poised to invite bids for the auction of the newly discovered lithium reserves in Jammu as early as June quarter.
Official sources further added that discoveries are not early-stage finds and the government plans to call for bids to start the process.
“G-3 level find, which means we are sure of significant reserves and, hence, starting the process to mine this critical non-ferrous metal soon,” the official said.
Based on United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC), which is a three-dimensional system considering geological, feasibility, and economic factors, the reserves are classified into four stages—G4 (reconnaissance), G3 (prospecting), G2 (general exploration) and G1 (detailed exploration).
The official added that the auctions would be open to all, like any other government auction, with one key condition: “The government would mandate that lithium found is refined only in India and not sent abroad for processing.” (KNO)

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#Parliamentarians #Show #Keen #Interest #JKs #Lithium #Reserves
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 14, 2023
India, Israel keen on finalising FTA

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New Delhi: Israel’s handing over of the strategic port of Haifa to Indian company, the Adani Group, is a reflection of the trust that the country has on India, Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon said on Wednesday.
At a media briefing, the envoy also said that both India and Israel are keen on finalising the proposed free trade pact as it could further boost overall bilateral trade ties.
Gilon indicated that there could be a forward movement on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during the upcoming “high-level” visit.
Describing defence ties between the two countries as very strong, he said Israel has an advantage to support India in its efforts to become self reliant in defence manufacturing because of the “long-standing” trust in the area between the two countries.
On the Adani Group acquiring the Haifa port last month, Gilon said it was sign of Israel’s trust on India and it could boost bilateral trade. It was a very important move from our side as Haifa is a strategic port, he said.
The Adani Group last month acquired the strategic port of Haifa for USD 1.2 billion (one billion =100 crore) and vowed to transform the skyline of this Mediterranean city as part of its decision to invest more in the Jewish nation.
The Port of Haifa is the second largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers and the biggest in shipping tourist cruise ships.
In his remarks, the Israeli envoy also said that there is a great potential to expand cooperation in areas of renewable energy, smart mobility, agriculture, healthcare, water and cyber and homeland security.

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#India #Israel #keen #finalising #FTA
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 22, 2023
‘We are not at war’: Muslim leaders keen on continuing dialogue with RSS

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New Delhi: The Muslim organisations feel that the dialogue with the RSS should continue and there should be an early resolution of the issues leading to conflict between the two communities.
Jamat e Islami Hind, whose representative met RSS leaders, said, “we are of the opinion that the dialogue should continue with the RSS as they hold influence on the government.”
In his clarification he said: “We are not at war so we hope the dialogue will give positive results.”
Another Muslim intellectual who once met these leaders said on condition of anonymity that on the cow slaughter issue the community should come up with a detailed response as Muslims are not involved in the cases and it has now become a business issue. He said that issue is likely to be discussed at the Sunday meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board in Lucknow.
The response comes after eminent Muslim citizens and religious organizations met RSS leader Indresh Kumar on January 14 at the residence of former Delhi LG Najeeb Jung and discussed the issue of harmony within the communities.
The Muslim side was represented by Jamaat e Islami leader Mohtashim Khan, Jamiat Ulema Hind’s both factions were there in the meeting including Niyaz Faruqui and Fazlurrahman Qasmi, Shahid Siddiqui, SY Qureshi. Najeeb Jung was also at the meeting alongwith eminent persons from the AMU and the representative of Ajmer Dargah, Salman Chisti.
Sources said the Muslim side openly wanted an appeal from the RSS and its affliates against the lynchings and also wanted the government to stop hate propaganda on television daily. The RSS was represented by Indresh Kumar, Krishna Gopal and Ram Lal.
The RSS raised the issue of cow slaughter and the use of the word kafir for the majority in India. The Muslim side said that declare the cow a national animal so that there is a uniform law on the issue and added that they will ask their community not to use the word kafir publicly.

Shahid Siddiqui, one of the participants, told IANS, “there was consensus to continue the talks which both sides accept so that there should be harmony. “
The Muslim side did not respond to the Kashi and Mathura issues and said disputes should be settled in court when the RSS leaders said that they should be handed over to them.
This is an ongoing dialogue since the Sangh leaders met Muslim leaders on August 22. Sources said that Najeeb Jung and other Muslim intellectuals met Arshad Madani prior to this meeting when Madani insisted that the statement should be made public so there is an assurance to the community.
The Muslims raised the issue of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. It was read there in which they accepted that the Sangh leader’s interview was quoted out of context.
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#war #Muslim #leaders #keen #continuing #dialogue #RSS
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 5, 2023
Iraq keen to strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia: President

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Baghdad: Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid said his country is keen to strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia at various levels and continue its coordination and consultation with the kingdom on regional and international issues of common concern.
Rashid made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, according to a statement released by the Iraqi Presidency.
It is the Saudi top diplomat’s first visit to Iraq since the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani took office in October last year, reports Xinhua news agency.
During Faisal’s meeting with al-Sudani on Thursday, the two officials “discussed bilateral relations, strengthening cooperation in various fields, and coordination on regional and international issues,” according to a statement released by the media office of the Prime Minister.
In a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein shortly after Faisal’s arrival, they discussed bilateral relations and the latest development in the region, said a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry in Baghdad.
“The relations between the two countries are witnessing a great positive momentum” and the two sides “are working closely to continue the momentum to deepen coordination on the economic and development front and support Baghdad’s efforts to consolidate prosperity, stability, and growth,” Faisal told a joint press conference with Hussein after their meeting.
For his part, Hussein said Iraq was coordinating with Saudi Arabia regarding oil policy within the framework of OPEC and OPEC+, and carrying out intensive cooperation in bilateral trade and investment.
Iraq has been cooperating with Saudi Arabia in the security field and the fight against drug gangs, the top diplomat said, adding the two countries are also strengthening cooperation to reduce the tension in the region.

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#Iraq #keen #strengthen #cooperation #Saudi #Arabia #President
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 3, 2023