Govt working on policy to bring down oil import bill by $100 billion by 2030: Gadkari

29 Dec 2017 Evaluate

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that the government think-tank Niti Aayog  is working on a policy to bring down the annual oil import bill by $100 billion by the year 2030 through extensive use of methanol in cooking gas and transportation fuel. He also said that the government will be soon announcing a policy which calls for 15% blending of methanol in petrol and will also reduce the cost of the fuel by 10 percent. Besides, he noted that India is the world's third-largest oil importer and the government has been making efforts to bring down imports by using methanol as an alternative fuel.

Gadkari further said that the final roadmap for 'Methanol Economy' being worked out by NITI Aaayog is targeting an annual reduction of $100 billion by 2030 in crude imports in line with PM's vision. He said that to promote this renewable, alternate fuel, a 'Methanol Economy Fund' is also being contemplated. He stated that a cabinet note on methanol in inland waterways and marine sector and overall adaptation of Methanol Economy will be moved shortly. Besides, he said that use of methanol can result in great environmental benefits and its extensive use can reduce consumption of diesel by at least 20 percent in next 5-7 years. He noted that 20 percent blending of methanol with cooking fuel LPG will be low hanging fruit as it would result in immediate savings of Rs 6,000 crore a year.

Regarding the possible use of methanol in Railways, the minister said that it can result in 50 percent reduction in its diesel bills. He indicated that Indian Railways consumes about 3 billion litres of diesel every year, for which it has to foot a bill of over Rs 15,000 crore annually. Adding further, he said that India will convert about 50 vessels in the Port sector and various vessels owned by government entities to operate on methanol and added that the country has a huge potential of producing methanol. He also pointed out that the country needs around 2,900 crore litres of petrol and 9,000 crore litres of diesel per year with an import bill on account of crude oil standing at almost Rs 6 lakh crore, which the government wants to bring down.

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