IOC Pilot Project of Methanol-blended Petrol

Recently, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) rolled out M15 petrol on a pilot basis in Assam’s Tinsukia district.

Why Pilot project is started in Assam’s Tinsukia quarter?

The pilot rollout was done in the Tinsukia district (Assam) by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) due to the ready vacuity of methanol, which is being manufactured by Assam Petrochemical Ltd in the vicinity of the Digboi refinery.
What’s M15 Petrol?
M15 is a blend of 15 methanol and 85 Petrol.
What are the advantages of using M15 Petrol?

• It helps lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 5 to 10. Blending 15 methanol in petrol would bring down GHG emigrations by 20 in terms of particulate matter, NOx, and SOx, thereby improving the urban air quality.
• Blending Petrol with methanol will give respite from the rising global fuel prices.
• It helps in achieving fuel independence and reducing the import burden. Blending of 15 methanol in petrol can affect in at least a 15 reduction in the import of crude oil.
• Coal reserves and municipal solid waste can be converted into methanol.

What’s methanol?
Methanol is a liquid chemical with the formula CH3OH. It’s a light, volatile, colorless, and flammable liquid.
Methanol is produced from which sources?
Methanol is produced from Coal (Indian High Ash Coal), agricultural residue, Natural Gas, Biomass, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), and most importantly CO2 from thermal power shops.
What’s the methanol economy?
The methanol economy is a suggested future economy in which methanol (CH3OH) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) replace fossil fuels as a means of energy storage, ground transportation fuel, and raw material for synthetic hydrocarbons and their products.
Methanol Economy is the “ Bridge” to the dream of a complete “ Hydrogen based fuel system”.
NITI Aayog is running a program called‘Methanol Economy’to promote the use of methanol in various industrial activities.