PIB Summary- 9th August, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Context
Recently, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas provided valuable insights into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Programme during a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs)

• Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) refer to reserves of crude oil that nations maintain to guarantee a consistent crude oil supply, particularly in the face of geopolitical instability or disruptions in oil availability.

Purpose and Importance

• SPRs serve the critical purpose of safeguarding against potential supply shocks caused by geopolitical events or other disruptions.
• These reserves play a pivotal role in ensuring a continuous flow of energy resources to support a country’s economic progress and advancement.

Key Points

• Strategic Petroleum Reserves are stockpiles of crude oil held by countries.
• They aim to ensure a stable oil supply during geopolitical uncertainties and supply disruptions.
• These reserves are stored underground to maintain a reliable energy flow.
• Their main role is to support a nation’s growth and development by providing consistent energy resources.

Benefits of SPRs

• Energy Security: SPRs provide a safety net against sudden supply disruptions, ensuring an uninterrupted energy supply.
• Economic Stability: By releasing oil during shortages, SPRs help stabilize domestic fuel prices and prevent price spikes.
• Geopolitical Preparedness: SPRs enhance a nation’s ability to respond to global energy dynamics and geopolitical developments.
• Emergency Response: SPRs contribute to disaster management by ensuring essential energy resources are available during emergencies.

India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) Infrastructure and Capacity

• Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd. (ISPRL) was established by the Government of India as a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas in 2004.
• The SPR infrastructure is a critical component of India’s energy security strategy, aimed at safeguarding against disruptions in oil supply.

Existing SPR Facilities
India’s current underground SPR sites possess a collective capacity of 5.33 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of crude oil. These facilities are strategically located across two states:

• Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: 1.33 MMT capacity
• Mangaluru, Karnataka: 1.5 MMT capacity
• Padur, Karnataka: 2.5 MMT capacity

Filling Strategy

• Taking advantage of favorable crude oil prices in April/May 2020, India efficiently maximized its existing SPR storage capacity. This tactical decision resulted in significant potential savings, estimated at approximately INR 5000 crore.

Expansion Plans and Commercial-Cum-Strategic Facilities
In a noteworthy development, the Indian Government granted approval for the establishment of two additional commercial-cum-strategic SPR sites:

• Chandikhol, Odisha: 4 MMT capacity
• Padur, Karnataka: 2.5 MMT capacity (expansion)
• These facilities, with a total storage capacity of 6.5 MMT, will operate through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Transfer and Timeline: Upon the conclusion of the 60-year Concession Period, the entity granted the concession will transfer the SPR, along with associated infrastructure like Single Mooring Points (SPMs) and onshore/offshore pipelines, back to the Government of India.

Historical Context

• The roots of India’s SPR initiative trace back to the Gulf War in 1990. Faced with a significant energy
• crisis during that period, India’s limited oil reserves posed a mere three-day buffer.
• Though the crisis was averted at the time, the persisting risk of energy disruptions remained a continuous concern.
• To address this energy security challenge, the administration under Atal Bihari Vajpayee proposed the establishment of strategic petroleum reserves in 1998.
• Presently, with escalating energy consumption, the rationale for developing and maintaining such reserves becomes increasingly compelling.

Global Comparison

• In the realm of global strategic petroleum reserves, India’s infrastructure stands alongside other major economies:
• United States: 714 million barrels
• China: 475 million barrels
• Japan: 324 million barrels
• India’s commitment to strengthening its SPR infrastructure underscores the nation’s proactive approach to mitigating energy supply risks and ensuring stability in the face of global energy dynamics.

Digital Health Incentives Scheme

Context
National Health Authority (NHA) has announced an extension of its Digital Health Incentives Scheme (DHIS) under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

Digital Health Incentives Scheme (DHIS)

• The Digital Health Incentives Scheme (DHIS) is a pioneering initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of digital technologies in the healthcare sector.
• This scheme operates with the objective of creating a digitally inclusive healthcare ecosystem that aligns seamlessly with the broader vision of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
• By incentivizing hospitals, diagnostic labs, and digital health solution providers, the DHIS seeks to catalyze transformative digitization practices for enhanced healthcare delivery.

Here are the key aspects of the scheme

• Transformation through Digitization: The DHIS is designed to encourage and reward hospitals, diagnostic labs, and registered Digital Solution Companies (DSCs) that embrace advanced digitization practices in their operations.
• Digital Healthcare Ecosystem: The scheme contributes to the larger mission of creating a digitally enabled healthcare ecosystem, in line with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission’s overarching vision.

Eligibility Criteria

• Health Facilities and DSCs: Hospitals, diagnostic labs, and digital health solution providers that are registered under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission’s Health Facility Registry (HFR) are eligible to participate in the DHIS.

Incentive Structure

• Incentive Calculation: Financial incentives are determined based on the number of digital health records generated and successfully linked to the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers of patients.

Achievements and Participation

• Incentive Recipients: As of June 2023, a notable total of 1205 health facilities have successfully enrolled in the DHIS. This inclusive participation encompasses both public and private entities, with 567 representing public hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic labs, and 638 from the private sector.
• Digital Solution Companies: The DHIS has garnered substantial interest from digital solution companies, with 22 out of the 25 registered entities operating in the private sector. This diverse participation underscores the robust engagement of the private industry in driving digital transformation.

About Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will help connect digital health solutions across the country.
• All Indians will get a digital health ID under this scheme.
• Every citizen’s health record will now be digitally secure.
• The health ID will be used as health account.
• Personal health records can be linked to this account and viewed with the help of a mobile application.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission will provide reliable data, leading to better treatment and savings for patients too.
• The National Health Authority (NHA) will be the implementing agency of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).