IPCC warns on Indian nuclear deal

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Amy Yee and Jo Johnson, FT Syndication Service
New Delhi: India's progress is being halted by opponents of a landmark nuclear deal with the US that could significantly boost a sector vital to the country's future, according to the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
"India has to expand its fuel choices," said Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC, which this month shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, former US vice-president. "I would like to see the [Indian] government not buckle under pressure of some of its supporters, like the Leftists.
"Overall, India will face a severe fuel crunch. Even our coal, which is supposed to be in abundance, is going to run into constraints," Dr Pachauri said in an interview with the Financial Times.
India's extractable coal reserves are expected to run out in 45 years, according to KPMG.
Blocking the agreement "certainly does limit India's progress in the energy field," said Dr Pachauri, who is also head of the Delhi-based think-tank, the Energy and Resources Institute. "If people don't see the benefit of this opportunity . . . I would say they are halting the country's progress."
The IPCC chairman's warning comes as Nicholas Burns, US undersecretary of state for political affairs and principal negotiator of the deal, is increasing pressure on India to complete the proposed civilian nuclear accord within the next few months to avoid "damage" to the relationship between the countries.