Oil Industry introduces a revolutionary marker system to eliminate adulteration of auto fuels
A new marker system that will detect adulteration of kerosene in Diesel & Petrol was launched here today at Indian Oil's Bijwasan Terminal.
Tweet-- A new marker system that will detect adulteration of kerosene in Diesel & Petrol was launched here today at Indian Oil’s Bijwasan Terminal by Shri Suresh Pachouri, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, pensions and Parliamentary Affairs in the presence of Shri Murli Deora, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India and other distinguished dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion Shri Deora said, “Adulteration of transportation fuels is a social menace that we are all familiar within the oil industry. We are committed to fight the forces that adulterate petroleum products. This step is not only aimed at checking adulteration but is also meant to ensure that under privileged sections of the society get their due quantity of heavily subsidized kerosene for cooking and other purposes.” He added that the new generation marker system will also ensure quality to customers of diesel and petrol. The adulteration of diesel and petrol with marker-blended kerosene would immediately show-up when tested using a simple kit through a simple visual check.
Shri Suresh Pachouri complemented the oil industry under the leadership of Shri Deora for taking this novel initiative in the interest of the consumers. Shri Dinsha Patel, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas expressed satisfaction over the revolutionary step of marking kerosene with world-class marker. He asked the oil industry to be vigilant against the unscrupulous-habitual adulterators so that best products and services are provided to the consumers. The other dignitaries, who were present on the occasion of the national launch are Shri Sajjan Kumar, MP, Outer Delhi, Shri M.S. Srinivasan, Secretary, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Sarthak Behuria, Chairman, Indian Oil, Shri M.B. Lal, CMD, HPC and Shri Ashok Sinha, CMD, BPC, along with senior officials from the Petroleum Ministry and the Oil Companies. Briefing media persons Shri M.S. Srinivasan informed that the Ministry is currently engaged in making this new anti-adulteration marker legally enforceable. He said the Ministry is engaged in consultation with the Law Ministry in this regard. It is expected that suitable changes in Marking Discipline Guidelines (MDG) and P&NG Rules etc. are made in couple of months.
The new marker system being introduced for the first time by the Oil Industry in alignment with the international practices is expected to curb to a large extent auto fuel adulteration using kerosene. Adulteration in auto fuels is essentially driven by the huge price difference between auto fuels like petrol & diesel and potential adulterants like kerosene, Naphtha and other industrial aromatic solvents. In the first phase, the marker will be introduced in the entire quantity of kerosene that is supplied by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). Based on examination by Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell along with Oil Marketing Companies, the marker system developed by M/s Authentix was found to meet the various characteristics and requirements identified by the Oil Industry. The dosing of markers in kerosene will now be carried out at Oil Terminals/Depots of OMCs.
The revolutionary marker will provide a new thrust to the oil companies, which have been facing the scourge of adulteration for a long time now. Field trials using the marker were initially conducted successfully by the oil industry, after which it is now slated for an all-India launch. All kerosene supplied by OMCs will now be marked at the Terminals/Depots of the oil companies. In the first instance, test kits will be provided to the field officers of OMCs to enable them to check for adulteration of auto fuels during their inspections. The tests are simple and it is possible to visually detect even small traces of kerosene e.g. 1% in auto fuels using a simple but highly accurate and effective test kit.
Speaking about other measures to check adulteration Shri Murli Deora informed that the Petroleum Ministry has been taking several steps to check adulteration of auto fuels. Periodic monitoring undertaken by the OMCs in conjunction with the State Government authorities and the tracking of Tank Trucks through Global Positioning System are some of the recent initiatives. The Oil Marketing Companies have also launched automated facilities in their retail outlets with tank level sensors and digital dispensers connected to a server that monitors that quantity of the product stored and dispensed through the nozzles. With the help of cutting edge technology, the oil companies now control the entire supply chain from Oil Terminals to Retail Outlets. The various IT-enabled initiatives are therefore aimed at securing product transfer between the supply locations and petrol stations. It covers the entire retail outlet forecourt & back office operations, including monitoring through electronic gauges, temperature and density measurement through sensors, besides dispenser unit controls that are linked to an automatic bill printing facility.
Seeking cooperation of all concerned, Shri Deora said that we need to be vigilant at all times to ensure that adulteration is rooted out of the system completely. The nefarious elements, which indulge in adulteration, need to be tackled by efficient coordination with the policing authorities at both the Centre and state Government levels. “I seek the cooperation of all concerned in ensuring that only quality products are made available at all times”. He added.
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