GUWAHATI, Dec 16 � State Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi today said that there has been a 24 per cent increase in the demand for power in the State from a time when per capita consumption was one of the lowest in the country and that Assam has initiated several initiatives and is planning several policy level interventions to boost the supply.
Inaugurating the two-day North East Energy Conclave � Leveraging Opportunities organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at Kalakshetra auditorium, Bordoloi, said, �Formulation of a renewable energy support policy, captive power policy and bidding for a oil block in Upper Assam are some of the steps in that direction.�
The Minister added that there exists in various sectors but there has to be judicious balance on achieving the energy security and maintaining the environmental concerns.
The conclave is being organized to provide a platform to discuss, debate and share information on the outlook and opportunities via-a-vis the infrastructural and policy imperatives for investment in the energy sector of the North East.
Nayan Moni Borah, Chairman, CII North East Council and CMD, Oil Indian Limited gave an overview of the energy scenario of the region and said that challenges posed by the New Exploration Licensing Policy. Apart from posing challenges it has also made the home grown companies competitive, Borah said.
Imploring on the need for technology intervention on reaching new horizons of exploration, he said that �we are not running out of oil, we are running out of ideas�. Exploration opportunities coupled with advancement in technology will help the region in bridging the demand supply gap.�
Earlier, Dipak Chakravarty, Chairman, CII Assam State Council and managing director Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) said that North East with its huge repository of energy inputs portfolio, including hydrocarbons and water resource, will have a huge role to play and would emerge as the power house of thriving India.
Chakravarty said that crude oil production in the region is going up steadily but the pertinent challenge is to venture into un-ventured areas.
A host of other related issues will be discussed during the course of the conclave.
