India sends first consignment of methanol to Bangladesh

The first consignment of methanol produced at a petrochemical plant in Assam, India left and crossed the border into Bangladesh.

The export of methanol, which is less polluting alternative fuel than octane and diesel, has started from India to Bangladesh.

State Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma flagged off the journey of the methanol-carrying truck bound for Bangladesh from the Assam Petrochemical Plant (APL) campus named after Dibrugarh district.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the unit of Assam Petrochemical Plant or APL on April 14, in which the methanol produced in Assam’s name plant left for Bangladesh. The production capacity of this plant is 500 TPD (tons per day), that is, it is capable of producing up to 500 tons of methyl per day.

Methanol is a low-carbon and hydrogen-bearing fuel, which can be produced from high-ash coal, various types of agricultural waste, carbon dioxide produced in thermal power plants, and various types of natural gas. It is also called by many people as “wood ash”.

Its biggest advantage is that it can be used as a fuel mixed (or separately) with octane or diesel. It costs less and pollution is also less. Many international experts in the energy sector are identifying methanol as the “fuel of the future”.

It is believed that if the sale of methanol-mixed fuel starts in the petrol pumps of Bangladesh, the price of fuel oil can be reduced a lot. This process has already started in several places in India.

Assam’s Tinsukia district, a pilot project of selling a special type of petrol called “M-15” has been started since May last year, the price of which is much lower than normal petrol.

This fuel is named as such because it contains 15% methyl. Studies show that methyl-blended gasoline produces at least 33% less greenhouse gas emissions than regular gasoline.

In fact, trains and ships are also possible to run on methanol. Steps are being taken to that end as well.

India’s NITI Aayog (the government think tank that prepares development plans) has also outlined a potential “methyl economy” in the country. India will be able to export methyl to countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan or Sri Lanka, it has been announced in the blue print of NITI Aayog.