Boost gas supplies to states
NEW DELHI: Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday asked state-owned firms to increase supply of natural gas and alternative fuels to states where the use of polluting petroleum coke and furnace oil has been banned.
The Supreme Court had last month banned the use and sale of petroleum coke a dirtier alternative to coal and furnace oil in areas around the national capital, which is battling alarming levels of air pollution. The ban came into effect from November 1.
Following that, the Environment Ministry and the Central Pollution Control Board on November 15 brought into "immediate effect a prohibition on the use of pet coke and furnace oil by any industry, operation or processes within the States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan until further orders".
Pradhan, in a Twitter post, said: "Reviewed use of furnace oil & its impact on pollution. Asked Oil PSUS to increase the supply of gas and alternate fuels in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh & Haryana and provide to the earlier users of Furnace Oil."
He reviewed the use of the two so-called dirty fuels with officials of the ministries of environment, heavy industries and coal.
Petroleum coke, or pet coke, is a cheap but polluting fuel used by industries like cement, paper brick kiln, chemicals and textiles.
"About 27 million tonnes pet coke is used in India out of which 50% is imported. Use of petcoke should be regulated for non-polluting purposes," he said in another tweet.
The apex court had last week asked all states and Union Territories to move towards a nationwide ban on the use of pet coke and furnace oil in industries to check pollution.
A ban on pet coke and furnace oil in Delhi has been in effect since 1996. The October 24 order of the Supreme Court banned its sale and use in the national capital region, which comprises Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad.
India consumed 14 million tonnes (MT) of pet coke during April-october 2017, marginally lower than 14.9 MT used in same period of last fiscal. Of the fuel consumed, only 8 MT was produced locally and the rest was imported.
Fuel oil consumption was 4 MT in April-october, a shade lower than 4.3 MT of last year. However, Fuel Oil production at 6.5 MT was higher than the consumption, necessitating exports.
India Ratings and Research (Ind-ra) in a note last month had said that cement prices in northern India will increase due to the ban on the use of pet coke. NEW DELHI: ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas arm of stateowned Oil and Natural Gas Corp, on Tuesday said it has acquired 15 per cent stake in a oil block in Namibia. It did not disclose the deal amount.
The 15 per cent participating interest in Namibia Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 30, covering Block 2012A from Tullow Oil of UK, is OVL'S second acquisition in the African nation in as many months.
In a statement, OVL said its indirect subsidiary ONGC Videsh Vankorneft Pte Ltd has signed binding agreements with Tullow Namibia Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tullow Oil plc, for the stake buy. Tullow held 25 per cent in the block. Eco Oil and Gas Namibia (Pty) Ltd with 32.5 per cent stake, Azimuth Namibia Ltd (32.5 per cent) and National Petroleum Corp of Namibia (Pty) Ltd (10 per cent) are other partners in the License. WASHINGTON DC: Indian automobile giant Mahindra & Mahindra has opened a new $230 million plant for an offhighway vehicle in Detroit, the world's car capital, which got its first automotive production facility in 25 years.
The new plant will create 250 new jobs in the US, the world's top automotive market.
"This is an exciting day for Mahindra...," Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said.
"This building opening represents our company's growing presence in North America and locally in the Metro Detroit area where we have tripled our workforce during the past 18 months.
We are committed to growing the Mahindra brand in North America and Michigan," he said.
"It is pretty rare and extraordinary," said Michigan Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley at the Mahindra automotive plant launch event on Monday in Detroit metropolitan area.
"You are an important and vital part of the resurgence of Detroit," he told Mahindra employees and top officials of the company.
In few weeks, the new facility will produce an off- highway vehicle which will extend Mahindra's current position in this growing segment, Mahindra said. Designed and engineered by Mahindra Automotive North America (MANA), the vehicle promises to be unlike anything currently on the market, he said.
An off-road vehicle is one which is capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surface.
"This expansion represents a milestone for us and for Michigan. We started this operation with seven people four years ago -- to be crossing the 250 mark is a testament to the hard work of our employees and what this region has to offer in terms of top automotive talent," said MANA president and CEO Richard Haas at the inaugural event.
By 2020, additional planned projects will result in 400 more jobs and another $600 million in local investment over that same period. In addition, MANA will continue to provide Metro Detroit- based engineering support for new vehicle platform development for India and global markets.
"It is a great day for my district and my State as this is the first automotive manufacturing facility in 25 years.
This comeback is real and exciting," said Congressman Dave Trott adding that Southeast Michigan is the birthplace of automotive industry.
"This illustrates the strong partnership between the Us and India," said Tom Vajda, the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia as he welcomed the Mahindra automotive plan in Detroit region.
Mahindra has in total 30 facilities having invested about $1 billion in the US and providing employment to some 30,000 people, Vajda said as he praised the contribution of Mahindra in American economy.