The government will reduce crude oil imports by 50 per cent by 2025. Addressing the National Editors conference in New Delhi on Sunday, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Veerappa Moily said, his ministry has taken several measures to meet the country's burgeoning demand for petroleum products.

He said a committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Vijay Kelkar to prepare a roadmap for enhancing domestic production of oil and gas so as to substantially reduce the nation's import dependency by 2030. Mr. Moily said that domestic crude oil production is expected to reach 42.31 million metric tonnes ,MMT, during 2012-13, which is over 11 per cent higher than the previous year.

The Minister said India is emerging as a refinery hub and its refining capacity is expected to reach over 239 million metric tonne in 2013-14, which exceeds the domestic demand. Mr. Moily said petro-chemical complexes are planned to be set up near refineries for value addition in petroleum products.

He said ethanol blending with petrol is being implemented to promote conservation as mandated by the Centre. He said a provision has been made to increase LNG import facilities to meet the growing demand for gas in the country.

The minister said total gas pipeline network has increased to 15,400 kilometres with the commissioning of Dabol-Bangalore Pipeline in January this year. Mr. Moily said his ministry is ready for direct cash transfer of subsidies to domestic LPG consumers provided there is convergence between Adhaar and banks. He said accounts of over 14 crore LPG consumers have been digitized so far.