Govt sets energy efficiency targets for core sector

The government today said it has set energy efficiency targets for the core sector -- power, steel, cement etc. -- to be achieved by 2014-15, failing which the companies shall be penalised.

The government has notified the energy efficiency improvement targets for the 478 most energy-intensive industrial units in India, an official statement said.

The sectors covered by the notification are iron & steel, cement, fertilisers, aluminium, pulp & paper, chlor-alkali, textiles and thermal power stations.

Within each sector, only plants using more than a specified amount of energy are included in the targeted list. These plants account for about one-third of the total energy consumed in India.

Those units which are able to achieve greater energy efficiency improvements within the specified targets can capture the excess savings through the issuance of energy saving certificates.

These certificates can be traded and bought by other units covered by the programme when the companies find it expensive to meet their targets through own actions.

Units which are unable to meet their targets will be liable for penalty, it said.