Power from renewable energy sources: ONGC

Agartala, Sep 09: The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has strategically shifted to alternative energy sources following an increasing pressure on conventional non-renewable sources.

Speaking to the sources here today, ONGC Director (Onshore) A K Hazarika said besides exploration of natural gas and oil, the company had planned to produce energy from renewable sources like solar and wind energy.

He also revealed that the ONGC had a plan to make NE a business hub for hydrocarbon.

''Very soon the hydrocarbon and other mineral sources will be exhausted. Consequently, we are making efforts to emphasise on power generation from renewable sources,'' Mr Hazarika said.

The oil major had taken up a 100 MW wind power project of 50 MW each in Gujarat and Karnataka. Besides, plans were on to start a model solar energy plant in Mumbai and would be replicated in other areas soon, the Director said.

On the company's latest developments he said,''Northeast India will very soon witness a new technique of exploration. ONGC will convert coal into liquid to use it as substitute of hydrocarbon and methane.'' ONGC was extensively working for gas exploration because of sufficient oil reservoirs adding that Tripura had perhaps the world's highest success rate when it came to yield of natural gas, he added.

''Of 10 ONGC assets across the country, Tripura topped the list for highest production of gas, besides, the highest in number of wells drilled against agreed and approved targets,'' Mr Hazarika added.

However, he also lamented on India losing out the opportunity to sell gas to China following the Myanmar government's decision to do so.

UNI