According to a report released by global NGO Greenpeace, the diesel consumed to provide power at telecom towers is causing an estimated annual loss of Rs 26 billion to the government, in the form of subsidies.
Abhishek Pratap, Senior Campaigner, Climate and Energy, Greenpeace India said, ?For telecom operators, there is a robust case to switch to renewable energy. The government should not give subsidies to telecom companies on diesel.?
The report adds that at current growth rates, the sector would require 26 billion kilowatt of electricity and 3 billion litres of diesel by 2012, which will increase carbon emissions from the country to significant levels.
Greenpeace estimated that a shift to renewable technologies, such as solar photo-voltaic, will result in a close to 300 per cent reduction in the total costs for telecom operators, in comparison to a diesel generator-based tower over 10 years.
Pratap said the telecom sector spend Rs 126 billion annually on diesel. Also, by removing the 21 per cent subsidy from diesel, the cost of diesel for the sector would reach Rs 152 billion annually.
The report estimates an investment of Rs 1.51 trillion to power all the telecom towers in the country.
