PETROLEUM CONSERVATION
A SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
» BY - Mrs. ANURADHA R SARDESPANDE

"Where conservation fails pollution starts." Energy conservation is matter of vital importance to all of us. With changing lifestyle, our comsumption increses rapidly. Those who can affort to pay it are enjoing the comforts it brings. But in a country like India, leave apart comforts, even basic needs cannot be fulfilled.For instance, people in many parts of the country have to alk miles to gather enough fuel wood to cook thier meals.

Energy is all around us. We can see their use in light bulbs, fans.TV sets the food we eat etc.It is an important forses that has dominated our lives. It is a part and parcel of all activity on earth. But the increasing demand of energy has created problems giobally so it is important to have a closer look at Energy-how we use it, it is impact and what can we do to preserve it.

Earth is store house of erergy. the fossil fuels, wind, plants, sunlight are all sources of energy these .These energy sources can be classified into renewable and non-renewable. Fossil fules are organic remains which have becomes soil, oil and natural gas through the process of fossilization. They cannot be renewed. Therefore they are non-renewable resourses.The earth has a huge stock of these resource, but in fixed quantities which will be soon depleted. Renewable resources like solar radiation, energy from wind and water can be continually replenished. Other renewable sources of energy are biomass (food ,wood and animal wastes). Both of these sources of energy has its advantages and disadvantages and its environmental as well as social and economical costs.

In the new millennium, dependence upon conventional energy sources has to be reduce. And in the context of indian economy, this fact is more subtle. During the second half on 1999, the globle population torched a new peak of six billion. The population touched the 100 crore mark.The energy needs of a nation like ours cannot be met from the conventional energy resources petroleum, diesel, to coal kerosene and other fossil fuel resources. The emphasis would have to be shifted to the non conventional energy sources as the fossil fuel reserves would not last for more than 200 years.The use each of following conventional energy resources affects the environment at some stages from its extraction to its end use.

BIOMASS is a renewable source but due to deforestation it results in soil erosion and loss of habitats. Biomass is a carbon neutral energy source because green plant absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and give out oxygen thus maintaining CO2(carbon dioxide) balance. But when biomass fules are burent,they emmits other carbon contating materials ,sout and ash. It therefore causes air pollution and global warming. The scarcity and rising demand of fuelwood has increased the pressure on other biomass resources such as cattle dung and crop recidues and a sharp increase in fuelwood price in urban areas. This has lead to trucks transporting the fuelwood from forest to long distance and hence increasing costs, coming important cities.

COAL is responsible for air pollution coal dust generated by mining pollutes the air widely, sometimes coal is washed to remove impurities like clay. This pollutes a lot of water. Today all oceans are contaminated to some extent with OIL they floats on water. When oil spills on land or water creatures by blocking their air supply and is espeecially harmful to life that cannot swims away, like coral. The accidents of the oil tanker in May 1989 spilled 42 millions liters killing at least 1,00,000 sea birds 1,000
sea otters and many seals.

The commercial processing of petroleum products wastes such as salts and greases. After prossing oil is ready as a fule. It is used in vehicles and furnaces. The increase in motor vehicles in India has resulted in a corresponding increase in the use of petrolum in transportation. As a result there is widespread air pollution making matters worse. SMOG is a comman feature in many cities leading to respiratory and eye problums among the urbanites. The lead compounds emitted by vehicles using
leaded petrol affects the normal functioning of the nervous system, the worst affected being children who become victims of brain hemorrhge. Vehicular emissions and other air pollutants have corroded historical monuments such as the Victoria memorial in Calcutta, the Red fort in Delhi and the Charminar in hyderabad.

About 28% of eiectricity produced in India is generated by turbines. This requires the bulding of dams. Large dams have becomes an envirmental hazard. They causes the submergence of vast areas of forests and wildlife habitats.

To some extent, NUCLEAR POWER can be a usable energy source as its use does not emit any carbon dioxide.The ocurrence of accidents are iow but if it happens, the con sequences are serious. The explosion at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine in 1986, that released large amont of radioactivity into the atmosphere was a major catastrophe.

Due to rapid industrialization, growth in population and increasing consumerism, the need for energy increases. To improv our energy for the future, it is become social a social responsilibity to take steps to increasing energy supplies and reduce energy demands through efficient use. We need to shift to more affordable and ioss environmentally hazardous renewable erergy resources.Petroleum is one of the most valuable natural resources in the world. It is called ' BLACK GOLD ' but it may be better described as the ' LIFE BLOOD ' of industrialized countries. Therefore Conservation of Petroleum is the need of the hour.

The world's supply of oil is limited and will eventually run out. Some experts predict that if oil consumption continues to rise, existing petroleum reserves will be exhausted. Conservation of oil has thus become urgent for all nations, but particularly for those that use the most energy. Conservation can be done by many methods. One way is by Oil field conservation under which companies can make the most efficient use of natural and artificial energy in recovering oil. The other method is refinery conservation which is aimed mainly at reducing the amount of heat energy used in refining. Manufacturers can install equipment to store energy and reduce fuel consumption in their plants. In the homefront, common sense is often the best guide to save the energy. In cold months for example, solar energy can be used by opening the room curtains during the day.

We must take adequate measures today so that our future could remain healthy and hazard free. The vehicles must be checked for pollution control norms. By keeping cars well tuned and by driving within speed limits, motorists can minimize petrol consumption. They can save even more fule by purchasing more fuel efficient cars or switching to public transportation. The elimination or reduction of petrol or disel driven vehicles would certainly reduce pollution. Future, car pool should be promoted so that people could save on fuel and money. If suitable measures are non taken, our blue green planet will decay soon.

Let us join hands to control this global disaster by restoring to afforestation ,using eco-friendly vehicles ,consuming today. Let us work for building a nation that is green, environmentally clean and sans the poisons which now dominate our lives at present by conserving petroleum. In fact 'OIL CONSERVATION FOR CLEAN ENVIROMENT ' should become our MISSON STATEMENT.