AP Bureau.
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New Delhi, March 27, 2015 : India must increase the domestic production of Oil and Gas to reduce import dependence from 77 % to 67% by the year 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while inaugurating Urja Sangam 2015’- the biggest global hydrocarbon meet so far at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday. The import dependence should be brought down to 50 % by the year 2030, he said.
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Urja Sangam aims to showcase India’s potential in the hydrocarbon sector to the world and create an investor-friendly atmosphere, besides positioning India’s thought leadership by creating a new “Energy Security” platform. On the global level, the summit aims to firm up cooperation agreements with key global players.
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He said that the western part of the Country is having more economic activities whereas the eastern parts of the country have to be focused for development as eastern states are rich in natural resources. For National growth a balance growth of every state and each part of the Country is required.
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Focusing on achieving equitable and balanced national growth, he said that the Government is committed to expanding its National gas grid network from its current length of 15,000 kms pipeline to 30,000 kms cross country gas pipeline. The said move would help connect Eastern states with the rest of the country which will boost industrial development.
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Shri Modi also called for growing Jhatropa in non-agriculture and barren lands, which could be used for production of bio-diesel. He also emphasized the need to promote skill development in important trades to ensure development . There are ample opportunities for innovation in the energy sector that need to be explored, added Prime Minister.
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The PM lauded execution of world’s largest cash transfer LPG subsidy scheme PAHAL in a time bound manner. Talking of its remarkable success, he stated that cash benefits 12,000 crore were made available to customers within a span of just 100 days, arresting leakage and bringing transparency.
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Shri Modi formally launched ‘Give It Up’ movement for voluntary surrender of LPG subsidy, which will be helpful in providing LPG Cooking Gas to under privileged section of the society. He mentioned that over 2.8 lakh people have already given up their LPG subsidy voluntarily, which is expected to result in savings of over Rs. 100 crores to the national exchequer and will be utilized for the benefit of marginalized sections of the society and benefit of the country.
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Speaking on the occasion Hon’ble Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas [ I/C] Shri Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized the role of Petroleum companies in the national economy and underlined the need of Energy Security of the country. He also complimented OVL, EIL and IndianOil’s Barauni Refinery for their 50 years of dedicated service to the nation.
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He released a commemorative Postage Stamp Album and a coffee table book on Engineers India Ltd (EIL). A History Book on ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL) was also released by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
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Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State (I/c) for Commerce & Industry, Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Power, Energy & Mineral Resources, Bangladesh, B. Ashok, Chairman, Indian Oil, DK Sarraf, CMD, ONGC, Narendra Verma, MD, OVL and AK Purwaha, CMD, EIL were also present on the occasion.
