As the April 1, 2020, deadline for transition to BS6 emission norms nears, here is some good news for automobile users. The country’s largest fuel retailer, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) claims that more than 15,000 fuel retail centres, out of the total 27,000 in the country, are ready to dispense BS6 fuel at nozzle level. That works out to 55 percent of the fuel stations; the remaining ones are expected to be ready by early to mid-March.
Speaking at Global Electrification Mobility Summit, on the sidelines of Auto Expo 2020 in New Delhi, Dr SSV Ramakumar, director (R&D) and board member, Indian Oil Corporation, said that 10 out of the total 11 refineries operated by IOCL are now ready to provide BS6-grade fuel. Interestingly, the country's oldest refinery and also one of oldest operating refinery in the world at Digboi was the first to get BS6-ready.
Earlier, our sister publication Autocar Professional reported that Sanjiv Singh, chairman, Indian Oil said, “Switchover to BS6 fuel supplies by IOC's marketing and retail network is also in full swing across the country. As per current progress, about 80 percent of IOC's 121 bulk storage terminals/depots will achieve the conversion from BS4 to BS6 fuels by January 31.
Indian Oil accounts for nearly half of India's petroleum products market share, with sales of about 90 million tonnes in 2018-2019. The company has more than 27,700 fuel stations (petrol pumps) across the length and breadth of the country.