India geared-up for the cleanest fuel in the world
Published On Feb 20, 2020
Industry body SIAM closely collaborating with government oil companies to chronological India’s transition to one of the cleanest fuels in the world. BSVI fuels and vehicles are one of the cleanest products that are available anywhere in the world.
Less than two months from now, India is entering in BSVI fuel era to become the handful of countries in the world to do so. The Automobile Industry and Oil Industry persistently working for a few years to provide BS VI products well in time, to meet the deadlines set by the Government of India.
In order to assess the level of preparedness, exchange information on progress being made and understand any specific requirements to achieve the national objective of BSVI migration with least disruptions, an interaction of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), representing all the vehicle manufacturers and Federation of Indian Petroleum Industries (FIPI), representing the Oil Industry was organised yesterday. BSVI fuels and vehicles are one of the cleanest products that are available anywhere in the world.
Speaking on the occasion, Sanjiv Singh, Chairman, FIPI and Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation said “We are happy to state that the Oil Refineries across the country are already supplying BSVI Fuel, as on date. Most of the fuel at the retail outlet nozzle is also BSVI, as the supply chain is totally being flushed out of BSIV fuel.” He reassured the auto industry that the BSVI fuel is committed to be supplied from 1st April 2020, pan India. The total investment from the Public Sector Refineries alone for this conversion to BSVI is to the tune of Rs 35,000 Crores, in addition, private sector refineries in the country have also made appropriate investments for the supply of BSVI fuel.”
Rajan Wadhera, President, SIAM said “We are delighted to learn today that Oil Refineries across the country are already supplying BSVI Fuel both for Gasoline and Diesel Vehicles. The automotive manufacturers have invested about Rs 70,000 Crores for developing BSVI product portfolio and any concerns of changeover plans by the Auto Industry from BSIV to BSVI have been put to rest. Now with the confirmation from Oil Industry, any apprehensions of the consumers on non-availability of BSVI Fuel for their BSVI vehicles, are also taken care of.”
India first adopted the BS-I emission norms in the year 2000 for the first time. This was followed by BS-II in 2001, BS-III came in 2010. The BSIV followed after seven years in 2017. However, India made one of the fastest and quickest transition to BSIV to BSVI within three years by any country in the world. This was a difficult decision both for the government to implement and for the Auto Industry to get ready in such a short time.
This drastic step was necessary for India due to the increasing level of pollution across cities and towns. According to reports, India has 22 of the top 30 most polluting cities in the world. The transition to the clean vehicle likely to reduce the new emission coming out of vehicles, however, the real challenge to reduce the pollutions is to take out old vehicles from the roads. To encourage people to sell their old vehicles and incentivize them, the government is working on a scrappage policy, which is likely to make public shortly.
