IOC to supply cleaner petrol, diesel to 13 cities from Apr 1

Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest refiner, and other state-run refiners will supply Euro -IV grade petrol and diesel in 13 big cities from April 1, but supply of the cleaner fuel to rest of the country may be delayed by three to six months.

While petrol and diesel meeting the stringent Euro-IV specifications are to be supplied in 13 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad from April 1, 2010, Euro-III grade fuel is to be supplied in rest of the country from that date.

v"We have no problems in supplying Euro-IV petrol and diesel in 13 notified cities. But we have problems regarding Euro-III," IOC Chairman Sarthak Behuria said here.

Since some refineries would not have upgraded to produce cleaner fuel by then, the three companies are seeking extension in the deadline for supply of Euro-III fuel, he said.

"Petroleum Secretary (R S Pandey) has called a review meeting this week. We will know the next course of action then," he said.

IOC's Barauni refinery in Bihar and Digboi and Guwahati units in Assam faced about six-month delay in commissioning facilities to produce Euro-III norm compliant diesel.

Its Koyali unit in Gujarat was one month behind while Hindustan Petroleum Corp's Mumbai and Vizag refineries faced up to two years delay in commissioning facilities to produce Euro-III grade fuel. Chennai plant and Numaligarh refinery also faced between six to 10 months delay.