IndianOil: Taking Giant Strides In 'Green' And 'Clean' Technology
New Delhi 11-Nov-2010
B N Bankapur,
Director (Refineries),
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
IndianOil is committed to contributing towards enriching the quality of life of the community and preserving ecological balance and heritage through a strong environment conscience. At IndianOil, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been the cornerstone of success right from inception in the year 1964. As per Mr. B N Bankapur, Director (Refineries), IndianOil, “IndianOil has invested close to Rs. 7,000 crore in state-of-the-art technologies at its refineries for production of green fuels meeting global standards. To further reduce dependence on precious petroleum products and take the nation closer to achieving energy security, IndianOil is exploring various options in alternative fuels such as ethanol-blended petrol, biodiesel, and Hydrogen and Hydrogen-CNG mixture.”
As a constructive partner in the communities in which it operates, IndianOil has been taking concrete action to realise its social responsibility objectives, thereby building value for its shareholders and customers. In the past five decades, IndianOil has supported innumerable social and community initiatives in India.
Besides focussing primarily on the welfare of economically and socially deprived sections of society, it also aims at developing techno-economically viable and environment-friendly products & services for the benefit of millions of its consumers.
As an active partner of the Global Compact Programme of the United Nations, IndianOil is fully focused on "sustainable development”. As a dominant player, the Corporation recognises protection of environment as a core commitment of its business.
Waste Water Treatment & Disposal
All IndianOil refineries fully comply with the prescribed environmental standards for waste water adopting state-of-the-art effluent treatment technologies. Sustained efforts are being made to further improve the standards by introducing latest technologies to augment the existing facilities in refineries and installations. All refineries have been provided with full-fledged effluent treatment plants consisting of physical, chemical, biological & tertiary treatment facilities.
Emissions And Its Control
IndianOil refineries have adopted various measures for control of gaseous emissions. These include use of low-sulphur fuel oil, desulphurisation of refinery fuel gas, tall stacks for better dispersion of flue gases, advanced process control systems and energy conservation measures to reduce fuel consumption thereby reducing carbon dioxide emission.
Secondary processing units for improving fuel quality and reducing emissions such as the Hydrogen unit and Diesel Hydrotreater unit and Motor Spirit Quality improvement projects also contribute to environmental protection. Sulphur recovery units have been installed at all the refineries.
Ecological Parks: Showcasing IndianOil’s Excellence in Clean Technology
The greatest testimony to the green movement of Mathura Refinery lies in the sprawling Ecological Park nestled in the heart of the main plant. Spread in an area of 4.45 acres, this park thrives on the treated effluent. Mathura Refinery was the first industry in India for which an Environmental Impact Assessment study was carried out. Besides pioneering the production and supply of green fuels, Mathura Refinery is the first refinery in India to have started with two Sulphur Recovery Units, with a stand-by unit as well.
According to B N Bankapur, “Responding to the energy challenge, IndianOil Refineries have adopted several innovative strategies and technologies aimed at improving the refinery margins and profitability. Practices like stream sharing, processing cheaper crudes, employing new operational strategies and increasing value added products are pursued aggressively. IndianOil is building adequate refining capacity by both capacity expansions and a grassroots refinery. We are also implementing the emerging technologies to meet the predominant demand for middle distillates and to improve the quality of India's petroleum products to make them eco-friendly and globally competitive.”
Green Fuels for a Green Tomorrow
In addition to its environment protection efforts, IndianOil has been continuously exploring the opportunities available for capacity augmentation, value addition, improvement in energy efficiencies, product quality improvements etc. and thereby enhancing overall profitability. Time to time, IndianOil refineries have been participating in various global benchmarking studies for identifying the gaps so that proper action plans are drawn up to bridge these gaps for achieving excellence.
Resource Conservation / Optimisation
IndianOil has always given due respect to resource conservation of the nature while energising the nation for faster growth. IndianOil always believed in clean technologies that use energy water and raw materials and other inputs more efficiently and productively, create less waste and more recycle.
New & Renewable Energy Option
In view of global climate crisis, there has been a marked shift from use of conventional fossil fuels to new and renewable sources of energy that are cleaner, safer and inexhaustible. Growing environmental concerns also pose a serious challenge for energy companies, underlying the urgency to usher in cleaner and sustainable energy resources.
In the country's pursuit of alternative sources of energy, IndianOil is focusing on CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), Auto gas (LPG), ethanol blended petrol, bio-diesel, and Hydrogen energy.
At IndianOil, the emphasis is on Energy Optimisation in all activities and at all stages, right from process selection, design, engineering, commissioning, operation and maintenance.
Fuel Quality Improvement To Meet Euro-IV Standards
In line with Auto Fuel Policy, the MS / HSD quality improvement projects at Panipat, Mathura and Haldia Refineries have been completed to switch over to the production and supply of Euro-IV grade Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel. Projects at other Refineries are progressing towards completion. Under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) initiative, four projects at Digboi, Haldia, Barauni and Gujarat Refineries have been registered with UNFCCC with potential CERs of 56374 MT per annum.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Refining Nature’s wealth to get the best in the most eco-friendly manner continues to be accorded a prime place in IndianOil's endeavours. IndianOil has successfully combined its corporate social responsibility agenda with its business offerings, meeting the energy needs of millions of people everyday across the length and breadth of the country, traversing a diversity of cultures, difficult terrains and harsh climatic conditions. The Corporation takes pride in its continuous investments in innovative technologies and solutions for sustainable energy flow and economic growth and in developing techno-economically viable and environment-friendly products & services for the benefit of its consumers.
