India sees energy demand growth below GDP pace

Tokyo, Apr 23: India expects its energy demand to remain strong, but increased energy efficiency may keep the pace of demand growth below economic growth, a senior Indian government official said on Monday.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of India's Planning Commission, said he expected sustainable economic growth of 9 percent a year over the next five years, requiring increased energy availability.

But he added, ''We are taking steps to moderate intensity of energy use. So actually, growth of energy is much less than growth of GDP.'' Ahluwalia did not specify how India would boost energy efficiency.

India's oil demand in 2007 is expected to rise by 3.4 percent 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.

Ahluwalia made his remarks at the opening of Japan-India energy talks in Tokyo, where he met his Japanese counterpart, Trade Minister Akira Amari.

Reuters