Editorial 1 : Power that hasn’t Peaked
Context: India cannot phase out coal like the UK.
UK’s Coal Phase-Out
- Last month, the UK’s last coal-based generation plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar (Nottinghamshire) was taken off the grid.
- The pace at which coal-based generation has been brought down in the UK is phenomenal.
- The share of coal in the electricity mix in the UK in the 1950s was about 97%. It had dropped to a mere 8% by 2016. In the last couple of years, it was less than 2%.
Key Factors in the UK’s Coal Phase-Out
- Government Policies and Market Mechanisms
- UK government has been pursuing a policy of closing down coal mines since the 1990s for reasons other than climate change, mainly political.
- To get rid of coal-based generation, the government relied on market drivers and regulatory interventions.
- UK government increased the cost of carbon dioxide emissions and the EU made emission norms stricter.
- The government also introduced mandatory use of carbon capture and storage for all new coal-based plants.
- These measures ensured that coal-based generation became increasingly more expensive and unprofitable. Developers decided to move out to other pastures.
- Availability of Alternative: UK had cheap gas as an alternative to coal.
- Reduced Demand: Per capita electricity consumption came down from 6 megawatt hours (MWHs) in 2000 to 4.1 MWHs in 2023, a decrease of 32%.
- Reduced Generation: Generation in 2000 was 377 billion units (BUs) and it was down to 286 BUs in 2023, a decrease of about 24%.
- Electricity Imports: UK imports a fair amount of electricity and imports have gone up considerably this year. UK is not dependent on domestic coal-based generators and the country could easily fill the gap through imports.
Challenges and Constraints in India’s Energy Landscape
- Growing Energy Demand: India’s demand for power is still growing and has not peaked. So, the country need to add to its installed capacity every year.
- Lack of Gas Alternative: India does not have access to cheap gas to substitute coal.
- Limitations in other Energy Sector
- Hydro Power: Growth in the hydro sector is hampered by environmental, geographical, and political challenges.
- Nuclear Energy: Nuclear sector contributes less than 3% to the electricity mix.
- Renewable Energy: Growth in renewable generation may look spectacular but its far less than what is required to meet the demand in 2030.
- Policy Orientation Towards Coal
- India needs to rely on coal and the country’s policies seem to be geared to that.
- India is delaying the retirement of coal-based plants and wants them to operate beyond the tenure of the power purchase agreements.
- Directions have been given to coal generators to import coal and run plants to full capacity.
- Guidelines on environment norms were issued in 2015 and over time, they have been relaxed to accommodate more coal-based generation.
Decarbonisation and Policy Shortfalls in UK
- UK has made some progress in the decarbonisation of the power sector though it hasn’t got rid of carbon footprints completely.
- It is highly dependent on gas which is half as dirty as coal.
- UK’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are insufficient for meeting the Paris targets.
- Reasons: Backtracking on phasing out of petrol/diesel cars, the continuing government support for extraction of oil/gas in the North Sea, and lack of support for industrial electrification.
Editorial 2 : Hang Up
Context: Digital arrest fraud - Prompt action needed
Introduction: Cases of digital frauds and digital arrest scams are on a rise. It is a larger pattern where scammers have tricked individuals across India into giving large sums of money by posing as law enforcement officers and other authoritative figures.
Increase in Digital Fraud Cases
- Victims Across Demographics
- Financially educated individuals, such as a retired professor and an industrialist, have also fallen prey to these scams, highlighting the reach and effectiveness of the scammers’ tactics.
- Fraud amounts reported in other cases include Rs 19 lakh and Rs 7 crore.
- Statistics on Digital Fraud
- Between January and April 2024, 7.4 lakh complaints were lodged with the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.
- Types of digital fraud reported include:
- Digital arrest scams
- Trading scams: Losses of Rs 1,420.48 crore
- Investment scams: Losses of Rs 222.58 crore
- Romance/dating scams: Losses of Rs 13.23 crore
- Perpetrator Locations: Many scammers have been traced to countries like Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
Government Response to Digital Fraud
- Prime Minister’s Advisory
- In his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi cautioned the public about digital arrest fraud, explaining that fraudsters impersonate various authorities (police, CBI, narcotics officials, RBI) and put psychological pressure on the victim that one gets scared.
- PM emphasized the need for public awareness to counteract these sophisticated scams.
- National Cybercrime Coordination Centre (NCCC):
- Established to synchronize efforts across different government agencies for a unified approach to cybercrime.
- Aims to streamline investigations, enabling faster identification and prosecution of scammers.
Challenge: Scammer’s Tactics
- Fraudsters employ methods that are increasingly sophisticated and innovative, from fake documents to fake call centres.
Way Forward: Solution and Measures
- Swift Law Enforcement Response: Rapid investigation and strict punishment for offenders to deter future scams.
- Increased Public Awareness: Educational campaigns to alert citizens about common fraud tactics and prevention measures.
- Enhanced Cybersecurity Collaboration: Through NCCC, ensuring real-time communication and coordinated action between law enforcement, financial institutions, and telecom providers.