NEW DELHI, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- India's President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has said the country needed a comprehensive renewable energy policy to attain energy independence.
"India has knowledge and natural resources and all that was needed was planned integrated missions to achieve the goal," Kalam said in his address to the nation on the eve of its 59th Independence Day.
He said India had 17 percent of the world's population and 0.8 percent of the world's known oil and natural gas resources. He said energy and water demand would soon define Indians' life in the 21st century.
"Energy independence has to be our nation's first and highest priority," Kalam said. "We must be determined to achieve this within the next 25 years, therefore by the year 2030. This one major 25-year national mission must be formulated, funds guaranteed, and leadership entrusted without delay as a public-private partnerships to our younger generation."
India imports 40 percent of its energy needs to feed its rapidly growing economy.
