BS VI-compliant fuel by 2020, says Pradhan

The Union Minister calls for producing quality and affordable fuel

Union Minister of State for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan having a word with Petroleum Joint Secretary Sandeep Poundrik in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

India would reduce automobile pollution drastically by producing Bharat Stage VI-compliant fuel and skipping BS V by 2020, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said here on Thursday.

Inaugurating the three-day 21st refinery technology meet being attended by top representatives from the oil companies and organised jointly by the Centre for High Technology and HPCL, he said that the oil companies had already invested $14 billion in upgrading facilities for BS IV.

Huge task

“BS VI compliance involves huge investment. Hence, our focus is on achieving the vision for New India finalised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have to produce quality and affordable fuel and diversify into petrochemicals,” he said after handing over the Jawaharlal Nehru awards to the oil companies in recognition of their performance during 2015-16.

Mr. Pradhan said that the Indian refineries, with a production capacity of 230 million tonne, had a huge task ahead because of increasing requirement in the next three to four years.

Already, efforts were under way to add 70 million tonne in Greenfield and 124 million tonne in Brownfield refineries.

By 2040, the requirement would be three to four-fold more, he said and advised the delegates to discuss and find out solutions on pipeline network and consumer-friendly market.

“Now, we are not only meeting our requirement but also exporting or in the process of exporting oil to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar,” he said.

Joint venture

The Minister also asked the oil companies to explore joint ventures with companies based in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia for exploration of oil resources there.

“I am confident that in the coming years, India would achieve energy security. With India occupying the centre stage of the world energy market, being the fourth largest refiner, more initiatives are required to increase the refining capacity with energy efficient technologies with minimal carbon footprint,” he stated.

Fossil fuel

Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas Secretary K.D. Tripathi said technology and innovation were driving the oil industry in India, and called for ignoring fossil fuel to reduce Green House emissions. HPCL Chairman-cum-Managing Director M.K. Surana said the time had come to get more value from crude and exploration of alternative sources of energy.

Petroleum & Natural Gas Ministry Joint Secretary Sandeep Poundrik said fuel consumption was expected to go up to 350 million tonne by 2030 and 480 million tonne by 2040. He said the effort was to reduce imports by 10% in the next three years.