High international crude oil prices, coupled with increased dependence on imports, had lead to a situation where one-third of India's foreign exchange outgoa has been to meet its energy needs.

Gross imports of crude oil and petroleum products, including joint venture companies and private during April-November were 53.80 million tonnes valued at Rs 51,445 crore compared to 41.04 million tonnes valued at Rs 26,806 crore excluding joint venture companies and private during the corresponding period of last year.

On the consumer end, the survey said that they paid 30 per cent more for their fuel requirement since October 1999. Between October 1999 and November 2000, the crude oil prices increased from Rs 7,281 per tonne to about Rs 11,000 per tonne and the import parity prices of controlled products have increased accordingly.

The Survey observed that moderation exercised by major oil producers would help stabilise the domestic oil prices during 2001-02.

The 9 per cent increase in the import during April-December, 2000, is accounted for by the continued surge in petroleum and product imports which have increased sharply by 78.2 per cent reflecting continued strength of international crude prices, the document said.

Global price increase in crude oil has translated into increases in administered prices of petroleum products three times since October 1999, it said adding "this caused fuel group annual inflation to rise by nearly 30 per cent leading to doubling of inflation rate to 8 per cent level during 2000-01".

The surge in petroleum crude and products imports in 1999-2000 and in the current year so far has increased the share of POL imports in total imports from 15.1 per cent in 1998-99 to 22.2 per cent in 1999-2000 and further to 32.5 per cent during the first three quarters of the current fiscal.

While part of this surge is explained by changed composition of POL imports from petroleum products to petroleum crude pursuant to increased domestic refining capacity, bulk of this rise in imports reflect the increase in international oil prices as also the relative stagnation in domestic oil production, the survey said.

During April-November 2000-01, domestic crude oil production at 21.71 million tonnes was marginally higher by 0.4 per cent compared to 21.63 million tonnes during the corresponding period of last year.

Natural gas production of 19.62 billion cubic metre in April-November 2000 was 4.4 per cent higher than the production of 18.80 billion cubic metre in the same period last year.

Currently, the total gas available for sale after taking into account the internal use, extraction of LPG and unavoidable flaring is around 65 million cubic metre per day, the Survey said.

During April-November 2000, the total refinery production was 63.21 million tonnes representing an increase of 31.1 per cent compared to 48.20 million tonnes during the corresponding period last year.

Total refining capacity in the country would increase to around 123.34 million tonnes by the end of Ninth Plan from the present 112.04 million tonnes, the Survey said.

Total consumption of petroleum products during April-November 2000 was 62.2 million tonnes, 0.8 per cent lower than 62.7 million tonnes during the corresponding period of last year.

Exports of petroleum products during April-November 2000-01 was 0.667 million tonnes valued at Rs 730 crore, 18 per cent higher than the corresponding period of last year, the Survey added.