IGL-IOCL break ground on first HCNG production unit

New Delhi: Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) on Thursday broke ground on the Hydrogen CNG (HCNG) production unit here at the Rajghat 1 depot of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

The unit is set up to produce 4 tonnes of compact reformer based HCNG for DTC buses every day.

This comes on directions from the Supreme Court of India, which had required IOCL and IGL to collaborate on the first semi-commercial plant as a pilot project for conducting a study on the use of HCNG fuel in 50 BS IV compliant CNG buses in the Capital city.

The plant is set to be commissioned by November this year and a performance report submitted to the Apex Court after the six-month trial is completed.

The Supreme Court had authorised the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) to monitor this project.

Speaking at the foundation stone-laying event, EPCA Chairman Bhure Lal said that this project would be the first step to expanding its reach across the country in the times to come.

He stressed that it is now a question of human survival and new technology needs to be adopted to improve air quality.

IOCL Chairman, Sanjiv Singh called HCNG a tailor-made solution for addressing pollution related concerns in the country, especially in Delhi and IGL Chairman, Gajender Singh added that now City Gas Distribution business is spreading to every corner of the country, with the Delhi NCR region contributing in a big way.

Hydrogen spiked CNG when used in an engine in place of CNG results in clean combustion.

Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) tests have shown HCNG usage results in up to 70 percent reduction in CO emissions and up to 25 percent reduction in hydrocarbon

emissions.