Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), viz. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. & Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, organised a roadshow today at Pune to create awareness on SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) initiative launched nationwide by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, on 1st October 2018. The roadshow aims to sensitize the stakeholders to participate in the said initiative and was kicked off by Shri Vijay Sharma, Director, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
The innovative SATAT initiative is a significant push that has the potential to boost availability of more affordable transport fuels, better use of agricultural residue, cattle dung and municipal solid waste as well as to provide an additional revenue source to farmers. As part of SATAT, OMCs are inviting Expression of Interest (EOI) to procure Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) from potential entrepreneurs and make available CBG in the market for use as automotive fuel. It envisions to establish 5000 CBG plants across the country with an estimated CBG production of 15 million tonnes per annum by 2023. To apply for the scheme, the format for Expression of Interest (EOI) is available on the websites of the OMCs and can be filled from 1st October, 2018 to 31st March, 2019.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Vijay Sharma, Director, MoPNG, said that CBG introduction in transport sector has multiple benefits such as waste management, reduction in carbon emissions, additional revenue source for farmers, boost to entrepreneurship & rural economy by generating employment opportunities. Shri Sharma emphasised that promoting CBG in transport sector would strengthen Indian economy against the volatile crude oil & gas prices. If the total potential of CBG is exploited in the country, India can produce approx. 62 million tonnes equivalent of CBG annually which is sufficient to replace the entire gas demand of the nation.
The PSU Oil Marketing Companies under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, are committed to enhance nation's indigenous fuel production and reduce its import dependency. Accordingly OMCs have formulated a remunerative price of Rs. 46/kg of CBG (excluding GST) for CBG suppliers, delivered at OMC Retail Outlets.
The roadshow was attended by prospective entrepreneurs, technology providers, financial institutions, officials from Oil Marketing Companies, PESO, FICCI, CII, MCA and provided an interactive platform for various stakeholders to address the queries of the participants on setting up CBG Projects, support mechanisms available, CBG delivery logistics etc.
