Indian Oil Corporation to boost its BS IV fuel supply network

Pune, October 8, 2013: In line with the government mandate for all public sector oil marketing companies to supply BS IV fuel to 50 cities in India by end-2014 (compared to the 33 cities where the superior quality fuel is currently supplied), the country’s largest oil firm, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is working to boost its BS IV fuel supply network to meet the deadlines.

Amid several issues currently grappling the company such as heavy losses (due to subsidised fuel supplies and fuel adulteration among other things), further requirement of new investments to not only refresh its old refineries but also update them with new equipment and technologies (making them ready for producing superior / stricter emission norm-complying auto fuels), Indian Oil is able to keep a check on its production volumes of the required fuel grades.

Talking to Autocar Professional on the sidelines of the ongoing Diesel Emissions Conference in Pune, Dr Anurag A Gupta, general manager, R&D Centre, IOC, said that “we have been given a road map by the government to add another 17 cities to our supply network of BS IV fuels by end-2014.”

Out of a total of 22 oil refineries in India, 10 belong to IOC. According to Gupta, of these 10 refineries, barring 3-4 plants which are very old, all others are currently supplying the BS IV fuels. Meanwhile, the company continues to deal with the fuel supply pressures and is working to update its old plants.

AMIT PANDAY