We Shall Move Towards Making Petroleum Industry a Clean Energy Industry: Dharmendra Pradhan

The Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called upon the petroleum industry to move towards making it a clean energy industry.

The Minster said that the Indian oil and gas sector would play an important role in making of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, fulfilling not only domestic requirements but also meeting the global expectations.

During the FIPI Awards 2020 ceremony, Pradhan said that we must ensure energy security for our people and provide energy which is affordable, accessible, clean, efficient and sustainable.

“Petroleum industry has made valuable contribution in the nation’s development. The sector undertakes maximum capital spending, providing large employment and giving fillip to the economy and garnering revenue for the State,” Pradhan said.

He further added that, in about one century of journey of the oil and gas industry in the country, the sector has grown by leaps and bound. Despite deregulation and increased competition, the sector is doing exceedingly well. It is producing world class products, doing innovation and R&D, and showing vision.

“Digitalisation, gas-based economy, new and alternative fuels are some of the areas we are focusing. Implementation of Pradhan Mantri UjjwalaYojana, movement towards gas-based economy, and rollout of BS-VI standard has been lauded the world over,” Minister Pradhan added.

He said that Ethanol blending in petrol has reached over 8 per cent. “We are targeting 20 per cent ethanol blending by 2024-25 which will make India the country with largest ethanol blending in absolute terms.”

The Minister said that energy demand in India is set to increase. We must deliberate on how we can move towards greater adoption of clean energy. India must assume leadership in exploration of cleaner forms of energy.

While talking about climate sustainability, Pradhan said that India has adopted the renewable energy on a massive scale.  He called upon the industry to adopt new technology, new processes and new paradigm so that India’s future energy requirements are met mostly from the clean energy sources.