CM Mohan Majhi inaugurates Global Energy Leaders’ Summit 2025 in Puri

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Puri: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday inaugurated the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit 2025 (GELS 2025) in Puri in the presence of Union Minister Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Odisha Deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and other dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Minister said that Odisha has taken the energy supply chain as its key element in the development of the state so that by 2036, by reducing the cost of fossil fuel energy production and consumption, our state will emerge as a green energy state. He emphasized on the need for uninterrupted power supply for the rural people.

Along with this, the Chief Minister said that Odisha is investing in its future generations in the energy sector because electricity is a top priority and an important infrastructure, which will always help us towards self-reliance.

Majhi also said that like Odisha, every state needs to prioritize its own energy production and conservation. GELS 2025 is an innovative initiative to bring together the Centre, States, Industry, Researchers, Institutions and global energy experts to achieve self-reliance and sustainability in the energy sector. It is the first global initiative to prepare a clear roadmap for clean energy.

The Chief Minister said that before 2014, uninterrupted power supply to domestic consumers and industry across the country was a challenge. Power generation was not sufficient to meet domestic demand. Power outages lasting for hours were common in rural areas. Power outages also affected the country’s industry and commerce. However, all this has improved in the last decade and this has been possible due to the guidance of the Prime Minister and the visionary initiatives of the Ministry of Power. India’s power sector has achieved rapid growth in the last 11 years due to increasing demand, infrastructure development and strong policy support for conventional and renewable energy sources.

Sufficient energy is required for the sustainable development of any country, state or society. Along with power generation, infrastructure for power distribution is also required. At present, India’s power generation from thermal sources is only 51 percent, which will further decrease in the coming days. In this context, Odisha has prepared a special strategy to move forward sustainably. Our government has set a long-term goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2070 and we are committed to achieving this commitment. Power generation has been given great importance in Odisha’s industrial policy. The Chief Minister said that it has been included as a domestic industry with special emphasis on renewable energy.

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Union Minister Joshi, thanked the state government for the progress of Odisha in renewable energy and announced the approval of 1.5 lakh solar houses for the state. As a result, seven to eight lakh people of the state will benefit. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s solar power capacity has increased from 2.8 GW in 2014 to 130 GW now, he said adding that Odisha is crucial in strengthening India’s clean energy transition.

On this occasion, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair congratulated Odisha by addressing the ceremony through video conferencing. He said that energy transformation does not happen when one government acts, but when many governments work in the same direction over time, the energy transformation effort succeeds. This is the purpose of the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit.

Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Bardhan Singh Deo, in his welcome address, said that the Konark Sun Temple reminds us that India’s relationship with energy has been a part of our civilization for centuries. By 2030, we have set a target of transforming industry and agriculture by using renewable energy.

Singh Deo said that by 2036, when Odisha completes 100 years, we have started our efforts to become a leading hub of clean energy, manufacturing and green hydrogen.

The event was graced by Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood, Rajasthan Power Minister Heera Lal Nagar, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary, Department of Power Vishal Kumar Dev, Senior Energy Advisor, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change Pierre Noël, Professor Anup Singh, Head, Centre for Energy Regulation and Energy Analytics Lab, IIT Kanpur.

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