REFERENCE
FUELS - ECONOMY
News: India begins producing 'reference'
fuel, joins select league of nations
What's
in the news?
●
India
has joined the league of nations producing 'reference' petrol and diesel,
specialized fuels used for testing automobiles.
●
The move is part of India's self-reliance
strategy and will end the country's reliance on imports.
●
Indian
Oil Corporation (IOC) has developed these fuels, which have
higher specifications, to replace imports and ensure a reliable supply at a
lower cost.
Reference
Fuels:
●
Reference fuels (Gasoline and Diesel) are premium, high-value products used for
calibration and testing of vehicles by auto OEMs and organisations involved in
testing and certification in the automotive field.
●
Indian Oil has successfully commenced the
production of Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels for the first time in India.
●
The demand for Reference Fuels in India is
currently met by imports from other countries.
Types
of Reference Fuels:
●
Reference Gasoline fuels will be available
in E0, E5, E10, E20, E85, and E100 from
Flagship Paradip Refinery.
●
Reference diesel fuel shall be available
in B7 grade from Panipat Refinery.
●
The indigenously developed product by
Indian Oil meets Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) specifications, substitutes
imports and is available at better price with reduced lead time.
●
Indian Oil Corporation Limited has
established facilities for the production of Reference Gasoline Fuels (E-5,
E-10 and E-20) at its Paradip Refinery and Reference Diesel Fuel (B-7) at its
Panipat refinery.
Need
for Reference Fuel:
●
Reference fuels are required by automobile
manufacturers for developing engines and assessing vehicles’ performance to ensure operability in all global climatic
conditions.
●
Currently,
these reference fuels are being imported by India from select companies in
Europe and the US.
Significance:
●
These fuels are used for calibration and
testing of vehicles by automobile manufacturers and testing agencies like ICAT
(International Centre for Automotive Technology) and ARAI (Automotive Research
Association of India).
●
These indigenously developed products will
lead to import substitution at better price and a shorter lead time for the
vehicle manufacturers.