Sale of Ethanol blended petrol begins
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 09 2022:
As per Government of India's policy of introducing supply of Ethanol blended petrol and consequent to announcement made in this regard by the Union finance minister, Ethanol blended petrol will be made available at retail outlets of Manipur from Thursday onwards.
Even though Petroleum Dealers' Association in West Bengal and Assam have strongly protested sale of Ethanol blended petrol and closed fuel outlets citing diminishing petrol quality when mixed with water already contained in fuel storage tanks and likely damage to vehicles, preparations for sale of Ethanol blended petrol in Manipur from Thursday have already been made.
According to an IOC official, petrol tankers to arrive in the state from Assam on Thursday will be the Ethanol blended and preparations for storing the fuel including cleansing of storage tanks at Malom oil depot has started.
Distribution of Ethanol blended petrol to retail outlets will begin from Thursday onwards for making available the same to custom ers, the IOC official added.
Meanwhile, a functionary of petroleum products retail outlets association of Manipur told The People's Chronicle that it is yet to ascertain how much damage is caused to vehicles by Ethanol blended petrol though experts have pointed out possibility of damaging vehicles as Ethanol blended petrol mixed with water in fuel storage tank dilutes petrol quality.
If there happens to be water in fuel tank of vehicle, filling Ethanol blended petrol to the tank could affect smooth ride and could even cause engine problem, the functionary said and stressed the need for owners of vehicles to check fuel tanks before filling Ethanol blended petrol.
Despite strong protest by North East India Petroleum Dealers' Association, sale of Ethanol blended petrol at retail outlets in Assam and Meghalaya had already started ' from February 7 onwards and the association demanded supply of unblended petrol in the region.
Ethanol being hygroscopic absorbs water from wind and this could damage vehicle but supply of Ethanol blended petrol started as per Government of India's policy as Ethanol blended petrol reduces release of Carbon Monoxide, the functionary informed.