India to keep energy demand growth below GDP pace

India expects its energy demand to remain strong, but increased energy efficiency may keep the pace of consumption growth below economic expansion, a senior government official said on Monday.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, said increased energy availability was required to fuel an expected sustainable economic growth of 9 percent a year over the next five years.

But he added: “We are taking steps to moderate the intensity of energy use. So actually, growth of energy is much less than growth of GDP.”

Reuters