The Hindu Business Line : Kerala observe oil conservation fortnight

THE Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight 2005, organised by the public sector oil companies in India to spearhead the oil conservation movement, will be observed in the State from January 15-31.

As part of the OGCF 2005, various programmes are being organised for increasing awareness level among general public and various energy intensive sectors such as transport, industry and domestic, Mr B. Ashok, State Level Co-ordinator, Oil Industry, Kerala and Lakshadweep, said at a press meet.

These activities are of paramount importance considering its potential for reducing India's oil import bill (at present around Rs 84,000 crore), increasing the energy security of the nation and keeping the pollution under check, he said, by pointing out that the consumption of petro products in the country is around 108 million tonnes a year and the refining capacity is now at 127 million tonnes.

As part of the programme in Kerala, he said save oil meets would be organised for truck and bus operators, cars and two wheelers.

The transport sector has always received special focus for petroleum conservation activities being the single largest sector consuming 40 per cent of the total petroleum products consumed.

Apart from these, technical meets on oil conservation would be organised for various industries in the State and special emphasis would also be given to agriculture and fisheries sector, he added.

Referring to the consumption of petroleum products in the State, Mr Ashok said it would be around 3.8 million tonnes during 2003-04. The figure would be almost the same this year also because of low production of naphtha. The production of naphtha in the State is low this year on account of the comfortable hydel power position in the reservoirs due to good monsoons.

Of the 3.8 million tonnes of consumption, he said petrol constitutes 4.30 lakh tonnes, diesel 13.47 lakh tonnes, furnace oil 4.20 lakh tonnes. The LPG is the fastest growing segment in the State, which constituted 4.12 lakh tonnes.

The Minister for Fisheries and Sports, Mr Dominic Presentation, would inaugurate the function at the Kerala Fine Arts Hall here on Saturday. The inaugural function would crescendo into a massive walkathon by school children and people from all walks of life. Besides, the fortnight would be marked by a host of activities such as quizzes, extempore speeches, essay writing, competitions, painting competitions for school children and college students.

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