As per the joint statement issued at the conclusion of the consultations, it was also decided to create an Indo-US coal advisory group, hold a joint workshop on clean coal technologies, accelerate adoption of coal beneficiation studies in a commercially viable manner, and form a specialist group to accelerate utilisation of coal fly ash.
The Indian team was led by power secretary P Abraham and the US team by Dirk Forrister, assistant secretary for congressional, public and inter-governmental affairs of the US energy department.
The consultations covered a wide range of subjects in the energy sector including fissile energy, oil and natural gas, renewable sources of energy, electric power, energy efficiency and environment.
Addressing newsmen, Abraham said both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the areas of cooperation and the benefits drawn from these consultations.
In the oil and natural gas sector, it was decided that both nations should cooperate in deep-water technology and unconventional sources of natural gas such as gas hyderates and in-situ coal gassification.
It was also decided to develop policies for greater private participation in hydroelectric projects, and to form a compendium of approaches for financing small and medium power projects.
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The two sides also decided to organise programmes and demonstration projects aimed at reducing green gas emissions and to explore further areas of cooperation for reducing pollution.
Abraham said the government was open to suggestions from the private sector for more speedy development of the power sector. It had already taken a number of steps for speeding up clearances of power projects.