The Chemical Industries Association (CIA), an apex body representing a cross-section of chemical industries and based in Chcnnai, has sent an appeal to the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers of coastal states to take urgent steps to implement offshore wind power projects. According to the association, offshore wind is an appropriate energy source the country has ignored so far but cannot afford to do so any longer. India is presently imports around 110-mt of coal, 185-mt of crude oil and 16-bcm (billion cubic metres) of natural gas every year. If the country has to maintain a GDP growth of 8% per annum in coming years, demand for energy has to go up at 9-10% annually. Considering the fact that Indian production of crude oil, natural gas and coal are nearly stagnant, with no likelihood of substantial increase in the immediate future, the country's import of coal, crude oil and natural gas will al- most double in the next seven to eight years. "Already, the current account deficit is considerably contributed due to import of energy sources like crude oil and natural gas. In this scenario, one can imagine the intensity of current account deficit problem due to the increased import of such energy source," the association said in the letter.
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