Petroleum Ministry Drafting 30-Year Fuel Plan

The Union petroleum ministry is drawing up an ambitious plan to meet the countrys fuel requirements for the next 30 years. The final plan will be placed before Parliament for approval.

Minister of state for petroleum and natural gas T R Baalu yesterday said that recent seismic surveys conducted by the Directorate-General of Hydrocar-bons (DGH) in eastern offshore areas have indicated the possibility of large reserves of gas hydrates in the region.

Combined with the possibility of finding ori emulsions in western onshore areas, large reserves of coal-bed methane in eastern India and import of liquefied natural gas through eastern and southern ports, these reserves will be sufficient to meet the countrys fuel needs for another 30 years, said Baalu.

Ori emulsions are hydrocarbon deposits that occur deep below the surface near coastal areas. When mixed with water, they make excellent fuel. This process is very popular in Japan.

Baalu disclosed that a large part of the countrys fuel needs could be met through ori emulsions. The minister was hopeful of putting the plan into action by the year 2000. Baalu added that the surveys carried out by the DGH in the Andaman sea and partly along the east coast, between December 1996 and March 1997, had given indications of large reserves of gas hydrates.

In certain areas, large free gas reserves have also been identified below the gas hydrate zones. Available technology should ensure commercial exploitation of these reserves.

Since India has the sixth largest coal reserves in the world, its potential for coal-bed methane (CBM) is also enormous. DGH, along with some other government agencies, is currently engaged in preparing data packages for offering CBM blocks.

This process is expected to be completed in about four months, after which the government is hopeful of announcing 10-14 blocks for exploration of CBM.

Baalu said the countrys oil pool account deficit was marginally less than Rs 15,500 crore at the end of 1996-97. The outgo of subsidy on various petroleum products during the year came to Rs 18,440 crore, he added.

India has the sixth largest coal reserves and the potential for coal-bed methane is enormous. The directorate-general of hydrocarbons and some other govt agencies are preparing data packages to offer CBM blocks for exploration