As Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) get ready to start a pilot project to generate dimethyl ether (DME) in Pune, India will test a greener alternative to traditional fuel.
The evaluation of DME as an alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in industrial applications will be the main goal of the three-year pilot. The plant’s setup will take up the first year, after which operational testing will take place. ONGC will finance the initiative, which aims to produce 2.5 tonnes. CSIR-NCL scientists will oversee the research.
DME is a clean-burning fuel that was created using domestic technology and has the potential to lessen reliance on LPG imports. Additionally, the program seeks to evaluate supply chain feasibility, scalability, and commercial viability under practical circumstances.
The action coincides with growing worries about energy security and disruptions in global supplies, especially as a result of geopolitical conflicts. Although India’s domestic LPG production has increased, experts suggest that diversifying fuel sources is necessary for long-term solutions.
Future facilities might produce 100–500 tonnes per day if the initiative is successful, opening the door for widespread deployment.
Source – The New Indian Express
