'India Energy Conference 2008' in October: TERI

New Delhi, Aug 19: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in association with Petroleum Federation of India (PetroFed) will organise 'India Energy Conference 2008' on October 3. Vice President Hamid Ansari has consented to inaugurate the Conference.

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Murli Deora, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar, Abbas A Naqi, Secretary General, OAPEC, Dr R K Pachauri, Director- General TERI and Chairman IPCC, and Sarthak Behuria, Chairman, Petroleum Federation of India and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd will address the conference. The two-day conference will provide a comprehensive assessment of the Indian oil and gas industry covering issues of policy, pricing, regulations, risks and opportunities existing in the sector and prospects of alternative energy resources.

The theme of the conference is to discuss policy issues across the value chain of the hydrocarbon sector that promote development of competitive markets in the industry thus promoting private sector participation in the sector.

The conference will discuss impact of policy changes on development of competitive markets in Indian hydrocarbon industry and interventions required for increasing prospects for alternative energy resources.

Crude oil prices have touched unprecedented levels in the recent past. This has had far reaching implications on the Indian economy as the country meets 75 per cent of its crude requirement through imports.

Such high dependence on imported fossil fuels has not only financial implications, but also raises energy security concerns for the country. Such a scenario provides immense push to promotion of alternative sources of energy.

The conference recognizes the above and therefore, shall have adequate focus on the upcoming alternative sources of energy, their scope and required policy push to promote them.

Specifically the conference shall focus on prospects of biofuels in the light of the controversies on the use of land for food v/s fuel.

To present a balanced view, conference has invited national and international players of the new and renewable energy sources as speakers.

PK Agrawal, Director TERI and Secretary General, India Energy Conference said, "We plan to do something different than is usual at conferences. We aim to present insights and understanding of the complexities of one of the most important oil and gas markets in the world.

The insights will be provided by major industry players and experts who will share their views with the audience on the key issues facing the industry in India. The conference is expected to attract large national and international participation and will be an ideal opportunity to network and expand commercial interests."

ANI