Indian Oil recognized for leadership in biodiesel blending

Photo: Indian Oil

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. announced Sept. 3 that it has received the prestigious Biodiesel Association of India award for achieving the highest biodiesel blending during 2023-2024.

Indian Oil set a new benchmark by blending 232.4 million liters (61.4 million gallons) of biodiesel with regular diesel, achieving a record blending ratio of 0.49 percent, surpassing the 0.43 percent overall blending achieved by other oil-marketing companies (OMCs).

In the current year, Indian Oil has achieved a 0.73 percent biodiesel-blending ratio.

Indian Oil said this recognition underscores its leadership in India’s biofuel revolution.

The company has already achieved over 15 percent ethanol blending in its base petrol, aligning with the national goal of 20 percent ethanol blending by 2025.

The E20 fuel is now available at nearly 7,000 Indian Oil fuel stations nationwide.

Indian Oil has also introduced India’s first “Ethanol-100” fuel now available at 400 fuel stations across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

The company also set benchmarks by establishing India’s first second-generation ethanol plant and the world’s first third-generation ethanol plant at Panipat.

“As Indian Oil continues to explore new frontiers in biofuels and drive India’s green-energy future, this award stands as a testament to its relentless pursuit of environmental stewardship and innovation,” the company stated.

The award was presented by Nitin Gadkari, the minister of road transport and highways, and Hardeep Singh Puri, the minister of petroleum and natural gas, to V. Satish Kumar, the chairman and director of marketing for Indian Oil at the India Bio-Energy & Tech Expo 2024 in New Delhi Sept. 2.

In his inaugural speech, Gadkari set forth an ambitious vision for the future of bioenergy in India, targeting a reduction in fossil fuel usage by 50 percent within the next five years.

In Puri’s address, he lauded Indian Oil’s steadfast commitment to advancing India’s bioenergy sector.