India working to reduce energy import dependence, says PM

Chennai, Feb 17 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India is working to meet growing energy demand, while reducing its energy import dependence and also diversifying import sources.
In his address after launching oil and gas projects in Tamil Nadu through video conferencing, he said the country was trying to ensure this through capacity building.
In 2019-20, India was fourth in world in refining capacity. About 65.2 million tonnes of petroleum products have been exported and this number is expected to rise even further, he said.
The Prime Minister noted a diverse and talented nation like India was more dependent on imports for its energy requirements. During 2019-20, India imported over 85 per cent of oil and 53 per cent of gas to meet its domestic demand.
“I don’t want to criticise anyone, but I want to say had we focused on this sector much earlier, our middle class would not have been burdened. Now it is our collectively duty to work towards clean and green source of energy and reduce energy dependence,” he said Stating that his government is sensitive to the concerns of the middle class, Modi said the country is increasing the focus on ethanol to help farmers and consumers, taking steps to become leader in solar power, encouraging public transport to make people’s lives productive and embracing alternative source like LED bulbs to enable huge savings for middle class households.