Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates H-CNG Plant with trials in Delhi

Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated IndianOil's compact reformer plant. He launched the much-awaited trial run of Delhi's buses on Hydrogen-blended CNG (HCNG) at the Rajghat Bus Depot-I of DTC. Kailash Gahlot, Minister of Transport, Government of Delhi, was also present on occasion.

Hydrogen-blended HCNG is emerging as an excellent interim technology for achieving emissions reduction & import substitution, in India's quest to promote Hydrogen as a clean fuel for the mobility sector. Refuelling of H-CNG blends in vehicles can be performed with minimum modifications in the infrastructure that is presently under use for dispensing CNG.

He said that providing clean and reliable energy supplies to 130 crore plus Indians is the top most priority of the Government. India will emerge as a winner in developing the solutions, the world would admire for the decades ahead. PM Narendra Modi is committed to usher in clean energy future that has minimal impact on the environment.

The Minister complimented the initiatives of IndianOil and said, "I am happy to note that the scientists of IndianOil R&D have risen to the occasion and have developed an innovative compact reforming technology for production of Hydrogen-mixed CNG."

He elaborated on the importance of Hydrogen in facilitating India's energy transformation, and said "Hydrogen is the ultimate fuel, which, while giving energy, produces clean water in the emissions. Apart from this, it has many other virtues as the capacity to get the rural sector involved with the energy sector through biomass. The Minister added that this pilot project will be unique. It will be helping the county and the world as a whole.”

Kailash Gahlot, Transport Minister of Delhi appreciated IndianOil’s efforts to develop such a path breaking technology not only for the first time in India but in the entire world. He mentioned that this project has been executed in cohesive environment involving IndianOil, IGL, DIMTIS, DTC and Delhi Transport Department.

At the same time, he also assured of Delhi Government’s full cooperation for the successful completion of the trial, so that this fuel can be commercially adopted soon on pan Delhi and India basis. He also complimented the team work of all stakeholders and spoke about its usage not only for DTC buses but also for private buses, once its trial is over.

Tarun Kapoor, the Secretary, MoPNG, said that HCNG is the fuel of the future. It is produced in much way all over the world but its commercial viability is the main challenge. He said that production of HCNG in India would be very cheaper and this will reduce the burden over Gas imports.

S M Vaidya-Chairman-IndianOil, said “The latest technological development would augur well with the nation's vision & commitment to transit towards the hydrogen economy.

He added, IndianOil took early steps in promoting Hydrogen initiatives. We also launched a research program on HCNG alongside the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and MNRE. IndianOil has set-up two Hydrogen and HCNG dispensing stations: one at our R&D campus in Faridabad and another at our retail station at Dwarka, Delhi. He expressed hope that more partnerships will be formed.”

Source: PIB