India has marked a significant milestone in its pursuit of self-reliance, initiating the production of ‘reference’ grade petrol and diesel. It holds the promise of not only catering to domestic requirements but also tapping into the export market.Historically, only a select few companies, primarily from Europe and the US, provided reference fuels to India.
Reference Fuel
- Reference fuels (petrol and diesel), represent high-value premium products specifically utilized for calibrating and testing vehicles by automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and institutions engaged in automotive testing and certification.
- They have higher specifications than regular or premium fuels. It includes various specifications such as Cetane number, flash point, viscosity, sulfur and water content, hydrogen purity, and acid number.
- For instance, reference grade petrol and diesel feature an octane number of 97, exceeding the octane numbers of regular and premium fuels, which stand at 87 and 91, respectively.
Indigenous Production by Indian Oil Corporation
- India historically depended on imports to fulfill the need for these specialized fuels. However, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has now indigenously developed ‘reference’ grade petrol at its Paradip refinery in Odisha and diesel at its Panipat unit in Haryana.
- Reference gasoline (petrol) fuels will be available in E0, E5, E10, E20, E85, E100 from Paradip refinery.
- Reference diesel fuel shall be available in B7 grade from Panipat refinery.
Benefit
- Cost Advantage: The cost of the imported ‘reference’ fuel stands between Rs 800-850 per litre, whereas the domestic production is estimated to lower the cost to around Rs 450 a litre, signifying a substantial cost advantage.
- Benefit to Vehicle Manufacturers: This development will provide minimum lead time for vehicle manufacturers, enabling import substitution at a better price.
Background
- E0, E5, E10, E20, E85, E100 refer to different ethanol-gasoline blends. Ethanol blending is the process of mixing ethanol with gasoline to create various ethanol-gasoline blends. This blending is aimed at reducing the overall carbon footprint and emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles.
- Diesel B7 is a fuel with added biocomponents of up to 7%
Octane Number
- It measures the fuel’s resistance to engine knocking. Higher octane numbers signify better resistance to premature combustion in gasoline.
Cetane Number
- Indicates the ignition quality of diesel fuel. A higher cetane number signifies easier ignition.
Flash Point
- It is the lowest temperature at which a substance produces enough vapor to ignite momentarily.
Viscosity
- Measures a fluid’s resistance to flow; higher viscosity indicates thicker, less fluid-like behavior.
Acid Number
- It is a measurement of the amount of acidic substance in the oil.