IOC introduces methanol-blended petrol M15

Indian Oil Corp (IOC) rolled out M15 petrol with a 15% blend of methanol over petrol on a pilot basis in Assam’s Tinsukia district.

In the presence of Niti Aayog member VK Saraswat and IOC chairman SM Vaidya, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameswar Teli on Saturday launched the M15 petrol. Teli said that blending fuel with methanol will provide respite from the rising prices.

Steps are being taken by IOC to make India self-sufficient in energy, he added. The pilot rollout was done in Tinsukia by the company due to the ready availability of methanol, which is being manufactured by Assam Petrochemical Ltd in the vicinity of Digboi refinery, said an official statement. 

Earlier in April, the government had extended the timeline for the disbursement of loans and completion of projects related to ethanol.

Central Government with a view to increasing production of ethanol and its supply under the Ethanol Blended with Petrol (EBP) Programme, especially in the surplus season and thereby improve the liquidity position of the sugar mills enabling them to clear cane price arrears of the farmers, notified different interest subvention schemes for sugar mills and distilleries during 2018-2021.