Power Resources

Meaning

The resources which are necessary for the generation of energy are called 'power resources'. Power resources are essential for economic development and improving the standard of living of the people in a country.

They play a major role in the development of industry, agriculture, commerce , transport and communication etc.

On the basis of their nature power resources can be divided as conventional and non-conventional power resources. Conventional power resources includes coal, petroleum , natural gas etc. Most of these are exhaustable.

Non-conventional power resources include alternative sources of energy such as solar, wind , tidal, geo-thermal power , biogas etc., India needs to develop these resources to overcome energy crisis.

Coal

Coal is a fuel substance of plant origin. It is composed largely of carbon. The vegetative matter which was buried in the past ages has changed into coal due to high temperature and pressure.

Importance

Coal is an important source of power in India. It contributes to about 67% of the total energy consumed in the country. It also provides many by-products such as ammonia, coal tar , coal gas , benzol , naphtha, sulphur etc. These are used as raw materials in chemical industries. For example: dyes, plastics , synthetic fibres, rubber etc.

Coal reserves of India are associated with two geological periods, namely Gondwana and Tertiary coal deposits. However the Gondwana coal is extensive and more important.

Distribution and Production.

In India coal reserves are located largely in the states of Jharkhand , Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal. These States have about 96% of the total coal reserves of the country. Coal deposits are also found in Asssam, Meghalaya and Nagaland India is third largest producer of coal in the world.

Petroleum

Petroleum is mineral oil which is composed of hydrocarbons. It is an important fuel as well as raw material for many industries. It is an important source of commercial energy and is largely used for transport . It provides raw materials for various Petro-chemical industries such as synthetic rubber, synthetic fibre , drugs , fertilizers , dye stuffs etc.,

In India, most of the petroleum reserves are found in Bombay High and in the states of Gujarat, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Bombay High oil field extend in Arabian Sea near to Mumbai has the largest reserves of petroleum and has the highest production of crude oil in India. Gujarat is the second leading oil producing area in India. Its important oil fields are Ankaleswar , Cambay, Kalol, Navgoan and Mehsena. Petroleum was first discovered in India at Makum in Assam. Formerly, Assam was the leading producer of crude oil. Now it ranks third

The main oil fields are Digboi, Naharkatiya , Moran-Hugrijan, Sibsagar and Rudrasager. The other oil fields are located in the basin and deltas of the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri river.

India is not a significant producer of petroleum. It has to import a large quantity of petroleum to meet its requirements.