India to meet 90% of oil needs from imports by 2030: IEA

India, Asia's fourth-biggest economy, would have to meet 90 per cent of its oil demand through imports by 2030, the International Energy Agency said in its World Energy Outlook 2007 report published on Wednesday.

The country need to boost purchases because domestic proven oil reserves are "small," the adviser to 26 petroleum-consuming nations said on Wednesday in the report. India would overtake Japan to become the world's third-largest net importer of oil before 2025, it said.

India's net oil imports may reach 6 million barrels a day in 2030 as domestic reserves won't be enough to boost production or cut imports. India has to import most of its coal needs through 2030 and shipments are forecast to rise almost sevenfold, the IEA said.

Power generation capacity, most of its coal-fired, will more than triple to 2030, and the use of coal may also triple between 2005 and 2030.

The nation needs to invest about $1.25 trillion in infrastructure, 75 per cent of that in the electricity industry, the IEA said. Attracting investments will be crucial in maintaining economic growth, the report said.

By 2015, India will become the third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide from fifth-biggest in 2005, with two-thirds of emissions coming from burning coal.