I would like to welcome you all to the launch of the Mumbai Energy Alliance (MEA), as well as the launch of this blog. My team members and I will update this blog regularly on topics relevant to the MEA.
The MEA was launched on 20th August, 2009 at 7 pm at the hands of Chief Guest Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE). He released a summary of the first MEA report, “Mumbai Energy Conservation Market Characterization: A summary” and launched the MEA website. Dr Mathur spoke about what he expected to see from the MEA and pledged the support of the BEE for the replication of city-based initiatives across India.

Mr. Yazid Bensaid, Country Deputy Director of Agence Francaise de Developpement was our Guest of Honour. Mr. Bensaid spoke of the potential impact the MEA could have on Mumbai’s energy profile and stated the support of AFD to furthering the goals of the MEA in Mumbai and around the country.



Other panelists at the event were Preeti Malhotra, India Director of The Climate Group; Mr. Rusi Engineer President of Urjavaran Foundation and Mr. Dilip Limaye, Chairman of IIEC’s International Council of Advisors. Mr. Emani Kumar, Executive Director of ICLEI South Asia could not attend the event.

Over hundred invitees attended the MEA launch, including representatives from local Government, utilities, energy efficient product suppliers and service providers, non-profits and civil society.

We also had a stall at Empower India 2009, a unique exhibition of energy efficient products and services held from August 20th to 22nd, 2009. The MEA stall had information about the Mumbai Energy Alliance, as well as about our partners: The Climate Group (participating in the MEA under the HSBC Climate Partnership), ICLEI South Asia- local Governments for sustainability, and Urjavaran Foundation.



The stall generated a lot of interest among energy service product suppliers and service providers, banks, the media and residents of the city. We also had a prominent non-Mumbaikar at the stall- Delhi Chief Minister Ms. Sheila Dixit. She’s seen in the photograph below talking to Anil Kumar, our representative in Delhi, about the possibility of replicating the Mumbai Energy Alliance in Delhi.