Bhubaneswar, May 11: The demand for energy can be a threat to global living because some will have access to energy and some will not. It can also lead to economic and political instability.

This was at the core of the combined opinions of speakers at the National Technology Day celebrations of National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) today.

Ravi Bhushan Grover, Homi Bhabha chair professor and member, Atomic Energy Commission, Government of India, said: "Rising demand requires the efficient use of energy as well as its affordability."

A lecture on "Importance of energy and role of nuclear energy in global energy mix" was held at the corporate office.

Importantly, he said, the supply side needs focus in the context of resources, technologies, and costs besides social and environmental impact.

Given all the constraints of conventional resources and limitations of renewable resources, he emphasised on the usage of nuclear energy considering the emerging demand in the country.

He said: "Nuclear energy, which has high energy density and high EROI (energy returned/energy invested in production), needs to be pursued rigorously in the present scenario."

He stressed evolution of technology to address issues pertaining to energy generation and consumption while focusing on safety, security and sustainability.

Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, Nalco, in his presidential address, mentioned technology has brought tremendous development and qualitative changes in people's standard of living.

"In the industry we use technology to increase production, enhance productivity, improve quality, generate revenue from waste and promote sustainability," he said.

Chand also said new technologies in the areas of robotics, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, augmented reality, virtual reality are all likely to bring in drastic changes in the employment pattern, for which industries need to prepare themselves.

He said Nalco has adopted a nanotechnology for effluent treatment. The same technology, he said, could be put to use in fluoride-affected regions and benefit society.