Over thousand participate in energy conservation walkathon

More than one thousand people from all walks of life on Thursday participated in a walkathon in Visakhapatnam as part of an energy conservation campaign.

India's Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight (OGCF), 2015 is being observed by several public sector oil companies.

OGCF is an initiative of Petroleum Conservation and Research Association (PCRA) and oil PSUs to create mass awareness regarding the importance of energy conservation by involving all sections of the society, including school children.

"We are very thankful to the city of Visakhapatnam for giving us tremendous support and understanding in our efforts to conserve oil and gas because ultimately that is what is going to save the nation and the environment," said Executive Director of Human Resources of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Pushp K. Joshi.

With the launch of the national level fortnight-long programme, intensive campaigns are being undertaken to drive home the point of oil and gas conservation.

Apart from tips on oil and gas savings to direct users, rallies, debates, essay-competitions are also being organised.

Energy-hungry India imports around 4 million barrels of oil per day and the net cost of the country's oil imports is expected to total 88 billion dollar in the fiscal year to next March, based on a budgeted oil price of 105 dollar per barrel.

Officials are hopeful that India could reap a fiscal windfall of at least 12 billion dollar following a plunge of nearly half in oil prices.