- Grand launch of nationwide fuel conservation campaign underpins India’s energy security goals
- Focus on behavioural change, cleaner fuel use and solar-enabled clean power adoption
- Oil PSUs harness solar across retail network and renewables to cut carbon footprint
- DG PDEU lauds Prime Minister Modi’s energy vision for sustainable and self-reliant India
- Fortnight of awareness drives, cyclothons, seminars, wall art and training to drive mass participation
NE ENERGY BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, FEB 2
Under the guidance of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)—alongside BPCL, HPCL and GAIL—on Monday hosted the grand inaugural ceremony of the nationwide fuel conservation campaign ‘Saksham 2025-26’ (Sanrakshan Kshamata Mahotsav) at Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Gandhinagar. The public awareness drive, themed “Conserve Oil & Gas, Go Green” (“तेल और गैस बचाओ, हरित ऊर्जा अपनाओ”), will run across the state and beyond from February 1 to 15, 2026, engaging citizens in sustainable energy practices.
Flagging off the annual fortnight-long fuel conservation campaign by the oil industry, Kaushik Kantibhai Vekariya, Minister of State for Law and Justice, Energy and Petrochemicals, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Gujarat, appealed to citizens and communities to treat energy conservation as a civic duty critical to strengthening India’s energy security and environmental stewardship. The minister identified grassroots action, cleaner fuel adoption and public engagement as essential for reducing India’s crude oil dependency—a strategic priority echoed at national energy fora.
The campaign’s inauguration featured addresses by key PSU officials and industry heads, including Sanjib Behera, Executive Director & State Head (Gujarat), IOCL; Achint Bhavsar, State Head (Retail), BPCL; and Subhendu Mohanty, Chief General Manager-Retail & Zonal Head, HPCL. Biplob Biswas, Executive Director & Refinery Head, Gujarat Refinery, IOCL, and Prof. S. Sundar Manoharan, Director General, PDEU, underscored the urgent need for responsible energy use, mindful consumption and public participation in conservation efforts.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. S. Sundar Manoharan lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-term vision for the energy sector, which aligns with expanding domestic energy security while pushing India’s renewable and clean power capacities forward. At India Energy Week and policy platforms, PM Modi has highlighted India’s potential as a renewables powerhouse—with solar capacity expanding dramatically and broad investment opportunities—underscoring the synergy between fossil fuel conservation and renewable deployment.
In line with that vision, oil & gas PSUs are increasingly tapping solar power to reduce operational emissions and energy costs. IOCL, for instance, has solarised over 36,000 fuel retail outlets nationwide, partially or fully powering them with solar energy to cut electricity expenses and carbon output as part of its broader clean energy transition. This complements sector-wide moves toward cleaner fuels, digitalisation and energy efficiency—a key driver of the Saksham campaign, which also promotes gas-based economies, electric mobility, hydrogen and behavioural change in fossil fuel use.
Throughout the fortnight, activities including the Saksham Cyclothon, Walkathon, debates, technical seminars, graffiti and wall painting, and fuel-efficient driving contests will be conducted across districts to reinforce the conservation message. Training modules for over 300 drivers at each State Transport depot and LPG awareness programmes are also planned to cultivate sustainable practices among transport and industrial sectors.
