Preparedness to supply Bharat Stage-m auto fuel

Govt. allays doubts over preparedness

Dispelling doubts about state-owned oil retailers' preparedness to
supply Bharat Stage-m auto fuel, the petroleum ministry has said
retailers have started supplying it in Goa earlier this month and are
set to cover all major states by June 30.

Ministry officials told FE that BS-III compliant fuel (the local
version of Euro-Ill) will be available in three more states
Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra by the end of next month.
It will be extended to 15 other states and to five union territories
by the end of June. That would cover more than half of the country.

The oil industry undertook a massive task of upgradation of
refineries, involving investments of over Rs.32, 000 crore.

The industry is fully prepared for introducing BS-III petrol and
diesel in the country By June 30, BS-III fuels will be available in
major parts of the country, in l9 states and in all union territories
except Lakshadweep," the official said. Nine other states and
Lakshadweep would get BS-III fuel by September this year, covering the
entire nation except the cities where higher grade BS-IV fuel is made
available from April, the official said on conditions of anonymity In
the mean time, the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control)
Authority for the national capital region chairman Bhure Lal told the
petroleum ministry that it supported the ministry's schedule for
introducing BS-HI fuel. The authority has asked the ministry of road
transport and highways, the implementing body for fuel standards in
motor vehicles, to adhere to the petroleum ministry's schedule for
BS-m and BS-IV fuel for ensuring compliance by automakers. The road
transport ministry wants to give six more months for automakers to
make vehicles compatible with BS-m fuel.

It has proposed amendments in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989,
to exempt vehicles manufactured between April 1, 2010 and September
30, 2010 from following the fuel standards under BS-III Vehicle makers
argue that BS-III fuel should be made available across the country
from the same date, which could be October 1. The authority has said
no deviation from the petroleum ministry's schedule is acceptable.
Financial Express, New Delhi, April 12, 2010