(PTI)
Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) has started production of Bharat Stage (BS)-VI fuel in all its four refineries to conform to the new fuel norms from April 1, 2020. R Ramachandran, director, refineries of BPCL, told FE that they have already started the production of BS-VI fuel from the first week of November to keep the system flushed with the fuel for timely delivery, whenever required. “The tankages and facilities are being converted to carry the new fuel. It may take two-three months for complete conversion of the system from BS-IV to BS-VI,” Ramachandran said.
In 2016, the Union government mandated compulsory usage of BS-VI vehicles from April 1, 2020, skipping the BS-V regime in between to curtail the growing pollution hazard from commercial and passenger vehicles. The new norms will help reduce the sulphur content in the fuel to 10 parts per million (ppm) from 50 ppm at present. Also, the harmful NO (nitrogen oxides) from diesel cars can be brought down by nearly 70%. In petrol cars, they can be reduced by 25%. However, particulate matter like PM 2.5 and PM 10 are the most harmful components, and it is estimated that BS-VI will bring the cancer causing particulate matter in diesel cars by a phenomenal 80%.
