GAIL''s ''national gas conservation awards were presented in New Delhi today — National gas conservation day - by petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar to eleven winners from eight industrial sectors for their energy conservation efforts.

Aiyar suggested that apart from observing December 14 as gas conservation day, the industrial sector could take the lead to make gas conservation a continuous part of its ongoing process.

GAIL India has instituted awards for the best energy efficient companies across eight industrial sectors — fertiliser, power, sponge iron, glass, petrochemicals, LPG fractionators, gas compressor station and small scale sector.

This year the awards were presented to :

• NTPC Gas Power Station, Faridabad;
• Videocon Narmada Glass, Bharuch;
• Hind Glass Industries, Ferozabad;
• Nagarjuna Fertilisers & Chemicals Ltd, Kakinada;
• Vikram Ispat Ltd, Raigad;
• H R Johnson, Mumbai;
• Tata Chemical & Fertilisers Ltd, Babrala;
• Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd, Vadodara
• GVK Industries Ltd, Secunderabad and
• LPG plant and gas compressor station, Vijaipur, GAIL India.

In 2003 GAIL launched the initiative of providing on-site training and technical expertise to its customers on eliminating industrial practices that result in inefficient use of natural gas with a view to bringing losses down to zero. This training is provided through the company''s energy management services group at all its zonal offices.