8NOVEMBER 2024TOP STORIESSTARLINK TO OPERATE UNDER LICENSING MODEL, NOT SPECTRUM AUCTIONINDIA'S CRUDE OIL REFINING CAPACITY ESTIMATED TO INCREASE BY 52 MMTPAElon Musk's Starlink, the satellite internet provider, is working to comply with regulatory requirements in India and will be granted a license once it meets these conditions, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced. Scindia highlighted the importance of compliance, including from a security perspective, and assured that Starlink is actively addressing the requirements needed to operate in India. The licensing process for satellite-based internet has sparked debate, as Starlink, Amazon's Project Kuiper, and Indian telecom companies like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea compete in the broadband space. A key issue centers on how satellite spectrum should be allocated and priced. Indian telecom companies advocate for auctioned satellite spectrum for urban broadband services, which they argue would ensure a fair market, especially as global players like Starlink and Amazon expand in cities.However, global satellite operators, including Starlink, contend that auctioning isn't ideal since satellite spectrum is typically shared rather than exclusively held. They argue that administrative allocation would better support equitable access to satellite-based services. Starlink has even cited that if 5G spectrum can be shared among telcos, satellite spectrum should also be administratively allocated rather than auctioned.The issue was further heated last week during discussions between Starlink, Project Kuiper, and Indian telecoms. The telecom companies argued for auction-based allocation, pointing out that without auctions, global satellite companies could disrupt the market. Starlink, however, pushed back, stating that shared spectrum practices would create a level playing field without undermining local operators. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) continues to consider input from both sides as it navigates this complex regulatory issue. The Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri shared that India has the capacity to process over 250 types of crude oil, and the country's refining capacity is projected to grow from 258 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to 310 MMTPA. This expansion, along with petrochemical integration, positions India for a flexible and efficient energy transition.On Nov 12, he announced that India is making significant strides in its biofuel blending efforts and is set to surpass the 20% blending target set for 2030, achieving this milestone five years ahead of schedule. The current biofuel blending rate has already reached 16.9 percent, marking rapid progress in the initiative.Puri highlighted that the biofuel initiative has resulted in savings of 91,000 crore in oil import bills while also boosting the agriculture sector. He made these remarks during the inauguration of ETM-2024 (Energy Technology Meet) in Bengaluru.On digital innovation in the energy sector, Puri cited a BCG report predicting that India's Artificial Intelligence (AI) market will reach $70 billion by 2027. He emphasized that digitalization offers tremendous potential to enhance operational efficiency within the energy sector.Indian Oil chairman V Satish Kumar also discussed the future of the energy industry, stressing the importance of integrating green energy solutions into refining processes. He stated that cutting-edge technologies and resource optimization would contribute to building a resilient and environmentally responsible energy industry.ETM-2024, a three-day event, has gathered around 1,300 delegates from India and overseas, including industry experts, academics, R&D scientists, and professionals from the hydrocarbon sector. The event will feature technical sessions on renewable energy integration, hydrogen production, waste-to-energy innovation, and strategies for achieving carbon neutrality. TOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIESTOP STORIES
< Page 7 | Page 9 >