Union Petroleum Minister flags off low carbon cruise on Mahabahu Brahmaputra

Tags: National News

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep S Puri on 24 January inaugurated the demo-run of Inland Water Vessel powered by Methanol blended Diesel (MD15). 

An overview of the news

• The boat ride was conducted on a 50-seater motor launch marine vessel named 'SB Gangadhar'.

• The ocean liner is equipped with two Ruston-made diesel engines (105 hp engine each).

• The boat will be run on MD-15 (15% methanol mixed HSD).

• Methanol is a low carbon hydrogen carrier fuel produced from high ash coal, agricultural residues, CO2 from thermal power plants and natural gas.

• This is the best route to meet India's commitment to COP 21.

• Slightly lower in energy content than petrol and diesel, methanol can replace both these fuels in the transport sector (road, rail and marine), energy sector.

• NITI Aayog's 'Methanol Economy' program aims to reduce India's oil import bill, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and convert coal reserves and municipal solid waste into methanol.

• India Energy Week 2023 (IEW 2023) to be held in Bengaluru from 6-8 Feb 2023.

About India Energy Week

• It is the first major event under India's G20 Presidency, which follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pledge at COP26 to cut India's emissions to net-zero by 2070.

•  Organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India Energy Week is the only and all-encompassing international energy event supported at the highest level by the Government of India.

• The week is being organised with the participation of all Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

• It is officially supported by the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI).