JOIN USVeerappa Moily for indigenous fuel rich nation
If Union minister for petroleum and natural gas M Veerappa Moily has his way, India will be self-sufficient in fuel production in another 15 years down the line.
Addressing media in the city on Saturday, Moily said: “At a recent meeting of top officers of the ministry, it has been decided to blend five per cent ethanol with the fuel.
If more emphasis is laid on generating energy from non-conventional sources, the nation could cut down on fuel imports. Moily said he wants to reduce fuel import at least by 50 per cent by the year 2016. According to the statistics available, the refining capacity of India per annum is 250 million metric tonnes, while the import is 250 million metric tonnes per annum.
Fuel production
Moily exuded confidence that it is possible to be self-sufficient in fuel production. As a prelude to this, the minister said there are chances of extracting gas from coal and methane and it requires a policy to go further deep into the possibilities.
Moily claimed innocence on the reported pending proposal of the state government before the Centre to blend non-conventional sources of energy with conventional sources in large quantity in KSRTC buses as announced by deputy chief minister R Ashoka recently in the city. “I am ready for blending fuel and will speak to the deputy chief minister on my own volition”, said Moily.
Nuclear waste
Moily also termed the charges against the Centre that there were plans to dump nuclear waste at the now abandoned Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), as false.
Referring to a report by scientists way back in the year 1993, Moily said when the subject for identifying places for dumping N-waste came up, it was decided for abandoned mines, but those fulfilling two criteria; they should be having granite but sans water clogged area. As KGF is a water clogged area, the possibility of dumping the waste at that mining area was ruled out.
Former Mayor Vasu was present.