OMCs to retail BS VI fuels in Delhi from April 1, 2018

The government of India has announced that the Petroleum Ministry, in consultation with oil marketing companies (OMCs), has decided to prepone the retailing of BS-VI auto- grade fuels from April 1,2018 in Delhi.

The government of India, in its bid to reiterate the commitment made at COP 21 in Paris two years ago for reducing vehicular emissions and improve fuel efficiency with an aim to reduce the carbon footprint, has said that OMCs have been asked to examine the possibility of making available BS-VI auto grade fuel in entire NCR region by April 1, 2018.

As is known, BS-IV grade transportation fuels were made available across the country from April 1, 2017. As a next step in this direction, the government decided to leapfrog from BS-IV to BS-VI grade by Apri1 2020 skipping BS-V altogether. While OMCs are making considerable investments to upgrade fuel projects for producing BS-VI grade fuels, vehicle manufacturers and the automotive component industry are actively working together to meet the BS VI challenge.   

Auto industry lauds early availability of BS VI fuel in Delhi
Apex industry body SIAM, which represents vehicle and engine manufacturers, has welcomed the announcement of the Petroleum Ministry for early introduction of BS VI petrol and diesel in the National Capital Territory of Delhi from April 2018, instead of April 2020. It also says the tentative plan to extend availability of BS VI fuel across the National Capital Region (NCR) from April 1, 2019 is laudable. The move, says SIAM, is a step in the right direction, as it is done in developed countries where the higher grade of fuel is also generally introduced a couple of years prior to introduction of higher emission norms for vehicles. 

Welcoming the initiative, Dr Abhay Firodia, president, SIAM, said that the early introduction of BS VI fuel gives confidence to the auto industry that BS VI fuel will be available across the country from April 1, 2020, when the auto Industry will fully migrate to manufacturing only BS VI-compliant vehicles on an all-India basis. Availability of BS VI fuel in Delhi from April 2018 also gives an opportunity to the vehicle manufacturers in this region to test and validate the BS VI vehicles being developed by the auto industry so as to be fully ready for the April 2020 deadline.

“Use of BS VI fuel with lower sulphur content may also improve the particulate emissions from the existing fleet of vehicles which are presently plying in the national capital to some extent. In addition, if the government also effectively enforces the order to remove old BS II and earlier vintage vehicles from plying in the national capital, it would greatly reduce the contribution of vehicular pollution in the region,” Dr Firodia added.

Also read: Global Fuel Economy Initiative increases support to over 65 developing and emerging economies.

Delhi smog a warning, minister moots comprehensive mobility plans for cities.