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Indian president urges cut in fossil fuel use
NEW DELHI, Aug 15, 2005 -- XFN-ASIA
President Abdul Kalam urged Indians to reduce dependence on oil, gas and coal imports and rely instead on cleaner and cheaper energy sources to power its booming economy. "Energy security, which means ensuring that our country can supply lifeline energy to all its citizens, at affordable costs at all times, is a very important and significant need," he said. "But it must be considered as a transition strategy, to enable us to achieve our real goal that is energy independence or an economy which will function well with total freedom from oil, gas or coal imports." Kalam urged policymakers to evolve a strategy for energy independence which should "address all issues relating to generation of energy through wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and ocean. "The nation should also work towards establishment of thorium-based (nuclear power) reactors," he said. He noted India accounts for 17 pct of the world's population but has just 0.8 pct of the world's known oil and natural gas resources. India's annual oil requirement is 114 mln metric tons, of which the country produces just 25 pct. Its oil import bill is about 1.2 trln rupees a year, Kalam noted. "Maximum hydro and nuclear power potential should be tapped. The most significant aspect, however would be that the power generated through renewable energy technologies may target 20 to 25 pct against the present five pct," he said. er/bpz/th/wk MMMM News Provided By |
