Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 03 August 2024
A two-day Consultative Conclave and Workshop on ‘Moving towards Sustainable Water, Waste Management, and Energy in Andaman & Nicobar Islands’ concluded on 2nd August 2024, marking a significant step forward in the region’s pursuit of sustainable solutions. The event, jointly organized by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), featured its final session on ‘Sustainable Energy’.
The concluding session commenced with presentations by senior officials from the Electricity Department and the Andaman & Nicobar Command, highlighting the energy security challenges faced by the islands. Experts from various industries and organizations, including CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Center, H2e, Greenko, Grid Technologies-Siemens, KEC, Avaada Group, and Magicmyna, participated in the session. They showcased innovative solutions involving hydrogen, nuclear, and solar-based green and sustainable energy options tailored for the island scenario.
A notable highlight was the presentation by Vice Admiral Dinesh Prabhakar, AVSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Distinguished Chair of Marine Engineering at INS Shivaji, who discussed the possibilities of harnessing nuclear power for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The session saw active participation from delegates of the Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), the Institution of Engineers (IEI) Port Blair Chapter, officials from defence establishments, senior retired officials of the Electricity Department, and other government departments of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, as well as representatives from DBRAIT and JNRM. The attendees engaged in discussions on the cost-benefit aspects of various sustainable energy solutions that could be implemented in the region.
Dr. S. Raji, faculty and coordinator at DBRAIT, presented a summary of the solutions discussed during the three sessions of the two-day workshop. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Sushmit Roy, Head of Green Hydrogen Energy at CII, as mentioned in a press release from DBRAIT.