Lok Sabha Question No. 922 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-08
Subject: Methanol Economy Initiative
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION DIARY NO. 922

ANSWERED ON 08/12/2023

## METHANOL ECONOMY INITIATIVE

922.     DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

PROF. RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

## Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- a. the current status and success achieved so far in implementing the Methanol Economy Initiative particularly in terms of its impact on reducing carbon emission and fostering energy sustainability in the country;
- b. the  details  of  the  budgetary  allocation  made/utilized  by  the  Government  for  the Methanol Economy Initiative to support the initiative's objectives and projects;
- c. whether the Government has any plans for the future of the Methanol Economy Initiative including any new projects, policy enhancements or international collaborations aimed at furthering the goals of this initiative;
- d. if so, the details thereof;
- e. whether  the  Government  has  taken/proposes  to  take  any  measures  and  formulate strategies to ensure the sustainability and long-term success of the Methanol Economy Initiative  especially  in  the  context  of  changing  energy  trends  and  environmental priorities; and
- f. if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

## (SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA)

(a) to (f)  The NITI Aayog has been driving the national efforts towards methanol economy programme in India since 2016 by constituting three expert groups on production, utilization and R&D to explore the different aspects of the methanol economy. Based on the reports of the Expert Groups and the discussions held at an International Conference in the year 2016, NITI Aayog, had drawn a road map to explore methanol as an alternative fuel.

The  NITI  Aayog,  has  set  up  an  Apex  committee  and  5  task  forces  in  accordance  to promote methanol production from coal, methanol production from biomass and municipal waste, utilization of methanol, conversion of the internal combustion engine and dissemination of information.

The details of the progress made in the Methanol Economy programme is given below:

-  The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has notified methanol blends in petrol - 15%, 85% and 100% by volume - called M15, M85 and M100, respectively.
-  The Indian standard for M15 has been formulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
-  The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC) has prepared the M15 blend and its stability has been checked.
-  Thermax Limited, Pune jointly by IIT, Delhi and BHEL, Hyderabad demonstrated 1 TPD and 0.5 TPD respectively for  the production  of  methanol  using  high  ash coal through indigenous technology.
-  Emissions and material compatibility, for the M15 blend, have been completed by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune.
-  The ARAI, in collaboration with the Maruti Suzuki Ltd., Hero Motocorp, TVS Motors, Bajaj  Auto  Ltd.  and  Mahindra  &  Mahindra  has  completed  the  road  trials  and  the durability test of the vehicles on M15.
-  The IOC has carried-out performance and emission trials on M15 blended petrol.
-  Assam Government in association with Assam Petrochemicals has launched methanol based cooking stoves.
-  IOCL launched M15 dispensing station at Tinsukia District, Assam.
-  Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited developed a 100% methanol-operated engine of 20 kWh capacity.
-  Ashok  Leyland  Ltd.  in  association  with  IOCL  have  successfully  demonstrated  the performance of diesel engines with MD15 (15% Methanol blended in diesel) and pilot trials of buses with MD15 in association with Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has been flagged off on 12th March, 2023 in Bangalore.

The Department of Science & Technology has supported the following two R&D projects for  demonstration  of  pilot  plant  for  production  of  methanol  using  high  ash  coal  and  the following have already been demonstrated:

-  1  Tonne  per  day  (1TPD)  methanol  pilot  plant  demonstrated  jointly  by  Thermax Limited, Pune and IIT, Delhi.
-  0.5 Tonne per day (0.5 TPD) plant for conversion of high ash Indian Coal to Methanol by BHEL, Hyderabad.

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