With uncertainty persisting in India on the civilian nuclear initiative with the United States, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath has said that a broad political consensus was necessary on the deal.

Kamal Nath, while addressing the prestigious Asia Society in New York on Thursday, said that it needs to be looked more as an energy deal rather than nuclear deal.

The minister said it is necessary to have a broad political consensus on the deal, pointing out that it was because of this consensus that economic reforms have continued despite changes in governments and prime ministers.

To ease the tight power situation, he said India is looking for clean coal technology as also alternative sources of energy.

In this context, Kamal Nath said, wind energy is already producing 5,000 MW of power and there are plans to expand production from alternative sources which provide clean electricity without harming the environment.