Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora on Monday stressed the need for maintaining a 5.8 per cent annual growth rate of primary energy supply to sustain about nine per cent economic growth for the next 25 years, to eradicate poverty and meet human development goals.

"India needs to sustain economic growth of at least nine per cent over the next 25 years if it is to eradicate poverty and meet its larger human development goals. The primary energy supply must increase at the rate of 5.8 per cent annually for fuelling the growth," Deora said while addressing a session at Petrotech-2009.