Report on OCF 2003

Report on OCF (Oil Conservation Fortnight)  2003 aappeared in the newspaper

Union Labour Minister, Dr. Sahib Singh Verma has made a fervent call for efficient utilisation of petroleum products in the country. Launching the fortnight-long special and concerted campaign to spread the message of conserving oil at national level here today, Dr. Verma informed that conservation of 25 per cent of petroleum products would result in a saving of about Rs. 25,000 crore which can be better utilised for developing infrastructure, providing education, health care, drinking water and irrigation facilities and development of roads and highways in the country, etc. The Oil Conservation Fortnight 2003 (OCF 2003) is being observed all over the country during January 15-31 period by Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) in association with oil industry. This period would be utilised to undertake an intensive multi-sectoral awareness campaign to bring home the message of oil conservation.
Dr. Verma called upon the children who had assembled in the morning to impress upon their parents, friends, etc., for adopting habits conducive to optimum utilisation of the Hydrocarbon Resources which has limited availability but are crucial in the day-to-day life as well as for sustainability of economy and society. He also emphasised the importance of conserving oil in view of the country's heavy import dependence which is evident from Rs. 78,000 crore oil import bill last year.
Shri M.S. Srinivasan, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Vice Chairman PCRA also reiterated the need for oil conservation which also result in environmental protection. He pointed out that the economy moves on energy and since the country is not self-sufficient in it, it is imperative that oil conservation remains a high priority. He informed that in addition to the holding of Rallies of Children this year's Conservation Fortnight is remarkable as "Save Oil Two-Wheeler Women's Rally 2003" has been organised, as by educating a women one can educate the entire family. Additional Secretary also flagged off the Publicity Van which carry the audio-visual Messages on conservation to people living in far-off and remote areas. Ms. Leena Mehendale, ED PCRA also spoke about the importance of oil conservation and said that conservation of crucial and scarce resources like oil is a bounden duty of every Indian.
During the inaugural function of OCF 2003, about 3000 school children and their teachers and others braved cold weather to take the solemn pledge for conservation of oil so that it lasts longer for the benefit of the country and avoid its unproductive and wasteful utilisation. The fortnight long special campaign aimed at reinforcing the message of the need for most efficient utilisation of hydrocarbon resources which is conveyed through the year by organising various programmes and events. Simultaneously, such campaigns are being held all over the country. This fortnight is utilised for intensifying the different campaigns for spreading awareness, educating the sectors like industry, transport, agriculture and the households to imbibe and adopt methods and techniques which give them maximum result by using minimum of energy.
PCRA was set up by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas in 1978 to promote optimum utilisation of hydrocarbons through spreading awareness amongst masses about importance, methods and benefits of conservation of petroleum products. Through multi-directional approach, it promotes R & D in new technologies, equipment, appliances, additives, etc., including fuel substitution and promoting renewable energy sources. PCRA focusses on sectors like domestic, industry, transport and agriculture as they are bulk users of oil. It has completed R &D projects including development of Diya, Lantern, Nutan Stove, LPG Stove, offset burner, kerosene vapour recovery in textile industry, furnace redesign for steel rolling mills, lube and grease dispensing equipment etc. For effective communication to the target groups in semi-urban and rural areas, messages are made in regional languages.

 

Using ethanol in Petrol -- problem and solution

While I was in PCRA, I was associated with a research project  but only to the extent of believing its need importance and possibility. Actual work was carried out by Mr Ashok Bhaskarwar of IIT Delhi. 

The main work was around this problem --

If you mix ethanol in petrol, then ethanol can work as equally good fuel provided that it is 98% (or more) anhydrous. The ordinary ethanol which we produce (mostly in sugar factories) is only 88-90 % anhydrous. To take away water and make it 98% is very costly. But if we have the methodology for petrol-water emulsions that are stable ( in a certain phase they are) then they can use the less anhydrous ethanol and such method will be much cheaper. Mr Bhaskarwar  experimented with various emulsifiers and gave us results showing stable emulsions (their phase-curves) but their actual use for mixing up ordinary ethanol and then use in vehicles at petrol pumps, needed further experimentation at the level of oil companies and that could not be done despite the involvement of people like Dr Mashelkar, then DG CSIR and Mr Naik, then Minister of petroleum. The R&D lab of IOC was also of not much help.

Now once again with high petrol prices we need to invst in such research work.