Why in news?
Recently, ‘Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels’ was launched which is produced by Indian Oil for the first time in India.
This is the first time that India is venturing into the production of Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels.
IndianOil’s teams of Refineries and R&D have strived hard to achieve this feat in the shortest possible time. To meet the International standards, these products had passed through three layer of certification viz., Refinery lab, IOCL R&D Centre and an internationally reputed third party lab.
The indigenously developed product by IndianOil meets Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) specifications, substitutes imports, and is available at better price with reduced lead time.
What are Reference Fuels (Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels)?
Reference fuels (Gasoline and Diesel) are premium high-value products, used for calibration and testing of vehicles by Auto OEMs and organizations involved in testing and certification in the automotive field.
These fuels are used for calibration and testing of vehicle by Automobile manufacturers and testing agencies like ICAT (International Centre for Automotive Technology) and ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India).
Specification requirements of Reference Fuels are more stringent than commercial gasoline and diesel.
The demand of Reference Fuels in India is currently met by importing from other countries.
IndianOil has successfully commenced the production of Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels for the first time in India.
Indian Oil Corporation Limited has established facilities for production of Reference Gasoline Fuels at its Paradip Refinery and Reference Diesel Fuel at its Panipat Refinery.
Reference Gasoline fuels will be available in E0, E5, E10, E20, E85, E100 from Flagship Paradip Refinery.
Reference diesel fuel shall be available in B7 grade from Panipat Refinery.
What is the significance of producing Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels indigenously?
The home-grown development of these products in-line with international benchmarks not only reduces India’s dependence on imports but also catapults India’s energy industry to the select global players armed with exclusive competencies.
India is dependent on imports to cater to the demand for this specialized fuel. These indigenously developed products will lead to import substitution at better price and minimum lead time for the Vehicle manufacturers.
What is the four-pronged energy security strategy adopted by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas?
The strategy which is guided by the vision of transforming India into an ‘energy-independent’ nation by 2047, includes:
(i) Diversification of energy supplies
(ii) Increasing India’s exploration and Production footprint
(iii) Alternate energy sources and meeting energy transition through Gas based economy and
(iv) Green Hydrogen and EVs.
What are the recent achievements of IndianOil towards green energy transition?
IndianOil has resolved to achieve net-zero operational emissions by the year 2046.
Commissioning of India’s first 2G & 3G ethanol plants at Panipat Refinery & Petrochemicals Complex.
Upcoming 10 KTA green hydrogen plant at Panipat.
IndianOil has installed ~1900 EV charging stations and targets to install 10,000 EV charging stations in next three years.
IndianOil is spearheading the Government of India’s SATAT scheme which targets 15 MMTPA CBG production and sale of Compressed Biogas (CBG) across the country.
