Page 12 - AsianOil Week 05 2023

AsianOil ENERGY TRANSITION AsianOil

India’s second-largest refinery

thinks green

INDIA INDIA’S Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd A press release issued by BPCL pointed to
(BPCL) will initiate a programme in conjunc- renewables installation goals by the company of
A 1-GW green energy tion with the regional Government of Rajasthan “1 GW of renewable energy by 2025 and 10 GW
hub will be created. in north-west India towards setting up a 1-GW by 2040.”
renewable energy facility in the state. BPCL has also recently announced plans to
No immediate details on a suspected solar VS open electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at
wind breakdown in the eventual make-up of the more than 7,000 of its existing 20,000 petrol sta-
project were released, although analysts in the tions before 2028.
region point towards wind as bearing the brunt “BPCL’s Renewables business unit is steer-
of final capacity generation given the current ing this voyage to help the global efforts to curb
energy mix. global warming, in line with the national climate
Wind-generated power capacity across the commitments, and renewable energy has a piv-
state accounts for almost 18% of the total accord- otal role to play in this endeavour” the same mis-
ing to sources, with solar power contributing an sive announced.
additional 10%. Already the second-largest refinery in India
The deal is being seen as a major step forward with a capacity of 38mn tonnes by way of its
in implementing a wider renewables policy refineries in Mumbai, Kochi and Bina, BPCL
across India’s largest state. Agreed between Shri has further started to promote the development
Shelly Abraham, head of renewable energy at and use of biofuels in this regard, most notably
BPCL, and Shri Bhaskar A. Sawant of the Indian in the form of ethanol blends in petrol produced
Administrative Service and Principal Secretary by the firm.
at the Department of Energy in the Government Current figures indicate a 10% blend in BPCL
of Rajasthan, the project is part of BPCL’s net- petrol, with a target of 20% set by the middle of
zero by 2040 goal. the decade. ™

P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 05 04•February•2023