Guwahati: Assam Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi inaugurated Saksham-2018, a month-long awareness campaign for conservation of petroleum products at Jubilee Hall of Indian Oil Corporation limited at Noonmati Refinery here on Tuesday.
It may be noted that as part of Saksham, Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, has been organising campaign to sensitise the consumers about energy conservation efforts in the country since 1978. Over the past 30 years PCRA has helped consumers in different sectors such as Transport, Industry, Agriculture and household to realise energy conservation to a great extent.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Prof. Mukhi said, “As we are all working for double digit economic growth for the country, the energy demand is bound to grow at similar pace. The country’s source of energy basket which grossly constitutes petroleum products, is also diminishing at a fast rate. While we are recognising and adopting measures to increase our dependency on renewable energy sources, the demand for petroleum products as source of energy is still growing. India has huge deficit in crude oil production level compared to its consumption pattern.” He therefore, urged upon the consumers at large to take a pledge to use energy judiciously.
As per figures of 2016-17, the country consumed about 194.2 million metric tons (MMT) of petroleum products and the Indian Refineries processed about 245.4 MMT of crude oil against an installed combined capacity of 230 million metric tons per annum. However, these figures are hugely offset by the fact that our crude oil production was merely 36 million metric tons in the same year.
Drawing the attention of the people around the Governor said that the country’s import bill is high and always dependent on global crude oil prices, rupee depreciation as well as rise in domestic consumption. However, sufficient refining output has reduced import dependency on petroleum products and the country has been able to export finished products to contain the foreign exchange deficit to a little extent.
The Governor hailed the efforts of PCRA and Public Sector Oil & Gas companies for undertaking intensive conservation awareness campaigns among the masses throughout the country and also appealed to all concerned to actively participate in this great cause and transform the campaign into way of life.
Synchronising with the event IOCL, as part of Corporate Social Responsibility has handed over a cheque of Rupees 20 lakh to Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration for upgrading the Tourist Friendly infrastructure facilities of Umananda Temple situated at the Peacock island.