by Joao Souza M | NT
PANAJI: As part of the petroleum sector’s endeavour to provide clean and green fuels to the nation, Goa is all set to switch over to fuels conforming to Bharat Stage-III norms from April 1.
A source in the petroleum industry informed that the Goa will join other states in switching over to the Bharat Stage III as part of the National Auto Fuel Policy, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2003.
He said that the Centre had laid down the roadmap for phase-wise implementation of Bharat Stage-II, III and IV vehicular emission and fuel standards across the country by the year 2010.
He also said that the Bharat Stage-II norms, equivalent to Euro-II norms, came into effect in the entire country from April 1, 2005, while 13 cities, with Delhi in the lead, were upgraded to the higher Bharat Stage-III norms from the same date.
The source said that the national capital along with a few selected cities will switch over to Bharat Stage-IV norms and Goa has been selected to switch over to Bharat Stage-III.
He said upgradation of petrol and diesel supplied to the rest of the country from BS-II to BS-III norms will commence in phases from April 1, 2010 and will be completed by October 2010.
Further, he said that in order to produce fuels compliant with Bharat Stage III and IV norms, Indian refineries have made massive investments in quality improvement projects. While most refineries have completed and commissioned the fuel upgradation projects for both petrol and diesel, a few are in the final stages of completion.
Import of deficit products of the required quality and specifications is being initiated, wherever necessary, to ensure that there is no shortfall.
He said after switching over to Bharat Stage-III, the pollution levels will come down drastically as the sulphur content in the fuel which stands at 500 PPM will be reduced to 150 PPM for petrol and around 350 for diesel.
The petrol pumps across the state have already started preparing to make the fuel available, he said adding there will be no effect on the fuel prices.
But, the major problem that is arising is the increment in the price of vehicles (diesel and petrol). For meeting the standards of the Euro 3 and Euro 4 fuels major changes going to take place in the refinement of petroleum products so that there will be less sulphur and benzene content than previous fuel.
