Hon’ble MoS (I/c), Petroleum and Natural Gas, launches sale of B5 Diesel on World Bio Fuel Day
New Delhi 11-Aug-2015
Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister of State (I/c) for
Petroleum and Natural Gas during the launch of B5 diesel at
Delhi in the presence of Mr. Kapil Dev Tripathi,
Petroleum Secretary, Mr. Debashis Sen, Director (P&BD), IndianOil,
and senior officials from ministry and oil industry.
Hon’ble Minister of State (I/c) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the sale of blended Bio-diesel - B5 Diesel at IndianOil petrol pump at Vijayawada via a video conferencing facility from New Delhi in the presence of Mr. Kapil Dev Tripathi, Petroleum Secretary, Mr. Debashis Sen, Director (Petrochemicals and Business Development), IndianOil, and senior officials from ministry and oil industry.
Mr. Pradhan clicked on the retail automation screen of the Vijayawada KDLOMACS (Krishna District Lorry Owner's Mutually Aided Cooperative Stores Limited), presented on a laptop, in the presence of Mr. Debashis Sen and other senior officials at Shastri Bhawan. It activated the fuelling of bio-diesel (B5 Diesel) at the designated dispensing unit of the retail outlet at Vijayawada.
In order to mark the World Bio Fuel day and in an effort to provide green fuels, Bio Fuel sales has commenced at Krishna District Lorry Owner’s Association petrol pump at Gollapudi on Vijayawada-Hyderabad Road.
Emphasising on the need for bio fuels, Mr. Pradhan said, "India is a vast country with tremendous agricultural resources. Bio diesel produced from plant extracts helps in reducing pollution and enhances engine life". He further said "Sale of bio diesel has commenced at Vijayawada (IndianOil petrol Pump), Haldia (BPC petrol pump), Vizag (HPC petrol pump) and at New Delhi today". Mr. Umakant Prasad Singh, GM, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh State Office, led the IndianOil team at Vijayawada. He remarked, "Bio-diesel is an alternative to conventional diesel fuel made from renewable sources such as non-edible vegetable oils. Fuel extracted from Jatropha and Pongamia seeds are being mixed at the rate of 5% with normal HSD. These organic fuels extract bio diesel and have better lubricity. When mixed with normal HSD, this B5 diesel (5% bio diesel and 95% normal diesel) is reported to provide a better engine life. Currently, five outlets at IndianOil Vijayawada would retail bio diesel at the same price as normal diesel".
Mr. Singh fuelled five liters of bio-diesel to the Maruti Swift vehicle of Mr. Pitcheswar Rao, Fleet Owner businessman and a regular customer of KDLOMACS, in the presence of Mr. A. C. Ghosh, Mr. Veeravengaih, Vice Chairperson, KDLOMACS, and other senior officials.
Handing over the cash memo for the fuelling, Mr. Singh congratulated Mr. Pitcheswar Rao and presented a sapling to mark the event and World Bio Fuel Day. Mr. Pitcheswar Rao said "I am very happy with this initiative of the Government that will help reduce pollution. I am excited to know that such a significant launch is first being held at Vijayawada which is known for its entrepreneurial spirit.
This fuel is said to be carbon neutral and has a better lubricity. I am very lucky to be the first customer of this initiative".
The entire sequence of fuelling at KDLOMACS RO and the customer interaction at the outlet was relayed to Shastri Bhawan on real time and was witnessed by the Hon'ble Minister, Director(P&BD) and other officials.
Other senior officials present at the event included Mr. P. K. Yadav, GM (Operations), HO, IndianOil, Mr. A. C. Ghosh, DGM (Retail Sales), IndianOil, Mr. P. K. Chatterjee, DGM(Operations), IndianOil, Mr. Veeravengaiah, Vice Chairperson, Krishna District Lorry Owner’s Association, etc.
Biodiesel is a viable alternative to conventional fuels based on a number of its properties including that it is produced from a renewable domestic source, its biodegradability, and its potential to reduce exhaust emissions. No engine modifications are required to use it in place of petroleum-based diesel, it can be mixed with petroleum-based diesel in any proportion. It is considered "climate neutral" because all of the carbon dioxide released during consumption has been sequestered out of the atmosphere during crop growth. The use of biodiesel results in lower emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
