Energy consumption below GDP growth: Montek Singh Ahluwalia
23 Apr 2007
Tokyo: Planning commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today said that India''s energy demand would remain strong, but the demand for energy was expected to grow below the rate of economic growth due to increased energy efficiency.
Speaking at the opening of Japan-India energy talks in Tokyo, Ahluwalia said he expected sustainable economic growth of 9 per cent a year over the next five years, requiring increased energy availability, adding, "We are taking steps to moderate intensity of energy use. So actually, growth of energy is much less than growth of GDP."
He said India''s primary energy demand would increase by 6 per cent a year, without giving breakdowns for oil, coal or natural gas.
India''s
oil demand in 2007 is expected to rise by 3.4 per cent from last
year to about 2.7- million barrels per day, the West''s energy watchdog International
Energy Agency said in its latest monthly Oil Market Report.
