Berlin  - A new organisation promoting the development and use of renewable energies was launched Monday in the former German capital, Bonn.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) will advise industrialised and developing nations on ways of reducing their dependency on oil, coal and gas.

Speaking at the opening event, German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the potential for renewable energies is huge, and needs more help to achieve a global breakthrough.

Vienna - The price for oil produced

Kolkata, Jan. 25 : Representatives of oil companies like Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum and Indian Oil, along with employees of the Gas Authority of India (GAIL), members of the Petroleum Conservation Researchers' Association (PCRA) and students from several schools participated in a walkathon here today.

The walk was aimed at creating awareness regarding the need to conserve oil.

According to S K Srivastava, Regional Manager, Bharat Petroleum, oil as a natural reserve was under threat of running out across the globe.

It was, therefore. necessary to use it judiciously, he added.

London, January 24 : UC Riverside chemists have come up with a novel way to add hydrogen to natural oils to prolong the shelf life of foods, while minimizing the production of trans fats that may have adverse health effects like increased bad cholesterol levels and coronary heart diseases.

In scientific parlance, the term hydrogenation is used to describe the addition of hydrogen to natural oils.

It was recently informed by India's largest listed company, Reliance Industries Ltd that the company's quarterly earnings sank by 9.8%, which is its first drop in three years. However, the forecasts have been beaten by the company as refining margin eased less than expected.

It is being hoped by Reliance, which is India's largest petrochemical producer and refiner that the good times for the company will commence in the second half of February when it will start generating 30-40 million cubic metres of natural gas a day from its deep-sea fields off India's east coast.

The state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited is planning to sign a deal with French energy major Areva to set up two new nuclear power reactors in Maharashtra. The move would help to resolve ever increasing energy needs of the country.

It should be recalled that India had signed a deal with France to co-operate in civil nuclear program. NPCIL and Areva had already signed a deal to provide 300 tonnes of Uranium for fuel deficient Indian nuclear reactors.