Planning commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and US secretary for energy, Samuel W Bodman met in Washington on Tuesday to launch a new bilateral 'India-US Energy Dialogue.'
"The establishment of the dialogue reflects the transformed strategic relationship between the US and India as called for by President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Secretary Bodman and Dr Ahluwalia agreed that it was important to show progress in the energy dialogue before the US visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," said a joint statement issued after the meeting.
On the issue of nuclear energy, the statement laid out the tasks of working groups, including dialogue and action on issues associated with civilian uses of nuclear energy and its control.
Foreign secretary Shyam Saran and US assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy, David Garman, will co-chair the steering committee supervising the five working groups.
Together, they will promote increased trade and investment in the energy sector to strengthen mutual energy security and promote stable energy markets to ensure adequate supplies, the statement said.
The first meetings of the working groups are expected to take place prior to the visit of Prime Minister Mamnohan Singh to the United States.
The steering committee will establish broad goals and timelines and ensure coordination among the working groups on future energy scenarios, trade and investment.
The working groups will address such topics as oil and natural gas, electric power, coal and clean coal technology, energy efficiency, renewable energy, new technologies such as hydrogen and civil nuclear power.
