PIB Summary- 28th October, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Reference Fuels

Context
Recently, the Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas launched the ‘Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels’ produced by IndianOil for the first time in India.

About Reference Fuels

• Reference fuels (Gasoline and Diesel) are high-quality, premium products used for calibration and testing of vehicles in the automotive industry.
• They play a crucial role in the development and assessment of vehicle engines, ensuring they perform well under various global climatic conditions.
• Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IndianOil) has successfully initiated the production of Reference Gasoline and Diesel Fuels in India, a milestone for the automotive industry.

Purpose and Application

• Reference fuels are used in the calibration and testing of vehicles by automotive manufacturers, testing agencies like ICAT (International Centre for Automotive Technology), and ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India).
• These fuels serve as standard benchmarks for assessing vehicle performance, emissions, and efficiency during development and testing phases.
• The development of indigenously produced reference fuels reduces the need for importing such fuels from other countries.

Varieties and Sources

• IndianOil’s Paradip Refinery will produce Reference Gasoline Fuels in various ethanol blends (E0, E5, E10, E20, E85, and E100).
• Panipat Refinery will be responsible for Reference Diesel Fuel production in B7 grade.
• Previously, India sourced reference fuels from companies in Europe and the United States.

Significance

• The local production of reference fuels by IndianOil complies with Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) specifications.
• It ensures import substitution, reduces costs, and offers a shorter lead time for automotive manufacturers.
• This development aligns with the Indian government’s initiatives to promote domestic manufacturing and self-sufficiency in critical sectors.

Importance of Reference Fuels

• Reference fuels are vital for automotive manufacturers to create engines and assess vehicle performance.
• They are essential for guaranteeing that vehicles operate efficiently in different climatic conditions worldwide.
• The development and usage of reference fuels are crucial for the automobile industry’s quality control, emissions testing, and technological advancements.