Page 9 - Souvenir - v4 (2)

Mr. Santanu Basu, IAS
Chairman & Managing Director
WBSEDCL

Mankind’s quest for sustainable development & growth as well as the global concern about the
environment & future generations is spurring a dramatic Global Energy Transformation. The
transition to the smart technologies and renewables is going to be rapid, so much so that by the
middle of this century two-third of the energy sources might be renewables. Today as Google is
powered by Bloom boxes and Hydrogen, battery storage and global grid which were part of fiction
until now, is slowly starting to play out. We, in West Bengal, have been at the forefront of this
transformation for years - from having the oldest working hydel plant in Asia, setting up the
largest pump storage plant in this part of the world to harnessing the Sun with a canal top
installation.
The citizens of this planet and have high expectations of clean and abundant round-the-clock
efficient energy supplies at affordable prices. This needs to be kept in mind throughout the
transition. All the spokes of the wheel have to energized to meet this consumer need. The
generating, distribution and transmission have all to be looked at holistically, which is not the case
today. Power distribution companies are perhaps the weakest link in the chain. Financially in poor
shape as a result of repeated policy shifts among other well-known factors, these Discoms are not
in a position to be supportive of this transformation unless there is focused planning.
Governance, regulations and risk management issues will be the fulcrum of heralding this change.
In this context, it is heartening to see the Institute taking steps to organize this conference. The
Institute and its members have a great role to play in this transformational phase.
I hope the and wish that the Institute will continue this laudable effort and help in the emerging
energy scenario.

9