Aim of Methanol Policy

The Methanol Policy India is introduced by NITI Aayog aimed to reduce India’s oil import, greenhouse gas emissions and converting coal reserves and municipal solid waste into methanol.

Methanol Policy India

Methanol is a hydrogen carrier fuel produced by high ash coal, agricultural residue, carbon dioxide from thermal power plants and natural gas.
It is pathway to achieve commitment to COP 21.

Methanol As a Fuel

As the energy content in the methanol is lower than petrol and diesel, it can introduce in the transport sector and energy sectors.
The transport sector includes road, rail and marine whereas the energy sector includes DG sets, boilers, tractors, retail cooking, kerosene, wood charcoal and commercial vehicles.
If methanol is blended with gasoline, it will reduce at least 15% import of gasoline/crude oil.
The methanol will bring down GHG emissions by 20% in terms of NOX and SOX and improve air quality.
It will create 5 million job through production / applications and distribution services.
It also save Rs 6000 Crore annually by blending 20% DME ( Di-methyl Ether, a derivative of methanol ) in LPG.
It will help in saving of Rs 50 – 100 per cylinder for consumers.
The bureau of Indian Standards has notified 20% DME blending with LPG. The ministry of road, transport and highways has been issued notification for M15, M85 and M100 blends.

Methanol Cooking Programme

Assam Petrochemicals launched Asia’s first canister-based methanol cooking fuel Programme on 5^th October, 2018.
This initiative is an extension of our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of reducing the import of crude oil and striving towards the provision of a clean, cost-effective and pollution-free cooking medium.
Methanol stoves can result in at least 20% savings for households.
The methanol cooking programme was scaled up to 1,00,000 households in the UP, AP, Goa, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Manipur, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Telangana.

Methanol Plants

Following plants have been planned to set up with collaboration ISRAEL.

Five methanol plants based on high ash coal
five DME plants
One natural gas-based methanol production plant with a capacity of 20 MMT/annum
Thermax Ltd has developed a 5 KW methanol-based reformer on a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC).
Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd has converted a 5 KW generator set to run on 100% methanol. Kirloskar is working for converting 150 – 300 kVA/kW capacity to run on methanol in collaboration with DOR Chemicals, Israel.
The Department of Biotechnology has been sanctioned to IISC, Bengaluru and Praj Industries, Pune for the production of methanol from biomass.