Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas

16-January-2013 17:20 IST

The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dr M Veerappa Moily has called upon Petroleum Conservation & Research Association (PCRA) to scale up their activities for intensifying conservation and optimum utilization of oil & gas in the country. In this regard, he said we should have exact & precise process of Energy Audit. “We should submit Energy Audit Report on various sectors to the people every year. There should be proper Energy budgeting by everyone utilizing energy”, the Minister added. Inaugurating Oil & Gas Conservation Fortnight 2013, organized by PCRA, here today, Shri Moily asked PCRA to formulate mechanism for rating of automobiles in the country based on their fuel efficiency. The Minister said, he would soon review these issues.

Dr. Moily also said the energy auditing should encompass all sectors as utilization of national resources on sustainable basis need to be a top priority. He pointed out that everyone should be not only concerned about today but posterity or tomorrow. He said,” Mere growth (without sustainability) may lead to chaos.” The Minister added that those who utilise national wealth (like oil & gas) appropriately should be recognized as patriot and called for the same becoming a National Movement.

MoS (PNG) Smt P. Lakshmi also emphasized the need for efficient use of scare national resources like oil and gas for which we are heavily import dependent. She called upon PCRA to take intensive fuel conservation awareness campaign to every house-hold in local languages. Smt Lakshmi outlined various steps taken by her Ministry for enhancing exploration & production efforts both in India and abroad for greater self-sufficiency in the oil and gas sector. Petroleum Secretary Shri G.C. Chaturvedi also spoke on the occasion.

The Ministers gave away conservation awards to the winners in various categories including for Essays and Paintings by children, besides flagging off Publicity Vans carrying messages & literature on fuel conservation. PCRA is an organization under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas which propagates the message of fuel (Oil & Gas) conservation throughout the year. It culminates in a Fortnight of intensive campaign around the country.

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RCJ/RKS/proposal for rating

Fuel efficiency rating proposed to inform consumers and promote conservation through annual public energy audit reporting. The Minister directed PCRA to implement a precise Energy Audit process with annual public Energy Audit Reports, require energy budgeting by all users, and develop a mechanism for an automobile fuel efficiency rating, alongside intensified household fuel conservation awareness campaigns in local languages.