IOC Pilot Project of Methanol-blended Petrol

May 2, 2022

Recently, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) rolled out M15 petrol on a pilot basis in Assam’s Tinsukia district.

What is M15 Petrol?

M15 is a blend of 15 % methanol and 85 % Petrol.

Why Pilot project is started in Assam’s Tinsukia district?

The pilot rollout was done in the Tinsukia district (Assam) by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) due to the ready availability of methanol, which is being manufactured by Assam Petrochemical Ltd in the vicinity of the Digboi refinery.

What are the advantages of using M15 Petrol?

It helps lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by about 5 to 10%. Blending 15% methanol in petrol would bring down GHG emissions by 20% in terms of particulate matter, NOx, and SOx, thereby improving the urban air quality.
Blending Petrol with methanol will provide respite from the rising global fuel prices.
It helps in achieving fuel independence and reducing the import burden. Blending of 15% methanol in petrol can result in at least a 15% reduction in the import of crude oil.
Coal reserves and municipal solid waste can be converted into methanol.

What is methanol?

Methanol is a liquid chemical with the formula CH3OH. It is a light, volatile, colorless, and flammable liquid.

Methanol is produced from which sources?

Methanol is produced from Coal (Indian High Ash Coal), agricultural residue, Natural Gas, Biomass, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), and most importantly CO2 from thermal power plants.

How is methanol different from ethanol?

The primary difference is that Methanol (CH3OH) contains only one carbon and ethanol (C2H5OH) contains two carbon atoms in each molecule.

What methanol and ethanol are being considered as alternative fuels for vehicles?

Methanol and ethanol are liquid and have several physical and combustion properties similar to gasoline.

In what sectors methanol can be used?

Methanol can be used in the following sectors:

Transport sector (road, rail, and marine)
Energy sector (comprising diesel generator sets, boilers, process heating modules, tractors, and commercial vehicles)
Retail cooking (replacing LPG [partially], kerosene and wood charcoal).

What is the methanol economy?

The methanol economy is a suggested future economy in which methanol (CH3OH) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) replace fossil fuels as a means of energy storage, ground transportation fuel, and raw material for synthetic hydrocarbons and their products.
Methanol Economy is the “Bridge” to the dream of a complete “Hydrogen based fuel system”.
NITI Aayog is running a program called ‘Methanol Economy’ to promote the use of methanol in various industrial activities.

What is dimethyl ether?

Dimethyl ether (DME) is the organic compound with the formula CH3OCH3. Dimethyl Ether (DME) is a derivative of methanol. The production of DME is via the dehydration of methanol.

What are the economic benefits of the methanol economy?

According to NITI Aayog, Methanol Economy will create close to 5 million jobs through methanol production/application and distribution services. Additionally, Rs 6000 crore can be saved annually by blending 20% DME (Dimethyl Ether, a derivative of methanol) in LPG. This will help the consumer in saving between Rs 50-100 per cylinder.

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