Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) To Invest ₹1.5 Trillion in Next 5 Yrs Towards Project Aspire; Draws Net-Zero Roadmap with Additional Capital Outlay of ₹ 1 Lakh Crore

BPCL plans to invest ₹1.5 Lakh Crore in the next Five years towards Project Aspire; Draws Net-Zero Roadmap with additional capital outlay of ₹ 1 Lakh Crore

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (“BPCL”), a prominent 'Maharatna' and Fortune Global 500 Company, unveiled its ambitious roadmap for the next five years at the 70th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held today. “The company has planned a capex outlay of around ₹ 1.5 Trillion or ₹ 1.5 Lakh Crore ( ~ $18 billion) in the next five years. We believe this will enable BPCL to create long-term value for its stakeholders while preserving the planet for future generations”, said G. Krishnakumar, Chairman & MD, BPCL.

Speaking at BPCL's annual shareholders meeting, Mr. Krishnakumar said, “We have consciously taken deliberate steps in reassessing and re-prioritizing our focus areas in light of the latest industry trends and governmental policies. Introducing 'Project Aspire' - our new strategy that is built on eight pivotal pillars. These pillars are clubbed under two main themes: 'Nurturing the Core' and 'Future Big Bets'. 'Nurturing the Core' has three foundational pillars: Refining, Marketing and Upstream. 'Future Big Bets' is anchored on five key areas: Gas, Non-fuel Retailing, Petrochemicals, Green Energy Businesses, and Digital Ventures. This aspiration is our roadmap to the future, and together, we will journey through this transformative era.”

Mr Krishnakumar – Chairman & MD, BPCL

BPCL has recently approved an Ethylene Cracker Project at Bina. With an investment of ₹ 49,000 crores, this project marks a historic milestone as the largest single investment in BPCL's history. As a part of the project, the capacity of Bina Refinery is being enhanced from 7.8 MMTPA currently to 11 MMTPA, which is expected to go a long way in securing BPCL’s markets in the Northern and Central India. “We believe that this project will drive the production of essential petrochemicals - increasing the share of petrochemicals in BPCL’s product portfolio to approximately 8%. This investment dovetails well with the government mission to make India a self-reliant and globally competitive petrochemical manufacturing hub.”, added Mr. Krishnakumar.

“With an aim to expand BPCL’s infrastructure network, BPCL will be setting up POL (Petroleum Oil & Lubricants) & LOBS (Lube Oil Base Stock) installations along with receipt pipelines at Rasayani, with investments of approximately ₹2,753 crore. This is expected to debottleneck the evacuation of products from Mumbai Refinery and ensure seamless supplies, particularly to the Northern markets”, said Mr. Krishnakumar.

BPCL is also diligently expanding its CGD networks across 25 Geographical Areas covering 62 districts in the country.

Towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 for both Scope 1 & Scope 2 emissions, BPCL has drawn a net-zero roadmap which encompasses the Green Energy Businesses, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), efficiency improvement, and the offset procurements. This would require an estimated phased capital outlay of approximately ₹ 1 lakh crore till 2040 and BPCL is geared for the same.

In E-Mobility, BPCL plans to provide electric vehicle charging facilities at 7,000 energy stations in the next five years. Certain highways are already equipped with BPCL’s Rapid Charging EV Corridors.

In the Biofuel space, having achieved 10.6% ethanol blending in petrol in 2022-23, BPCL plans to increase the blending to 12% in FY 2023-24 and endeavors to reach 20% blending by 2025. BPCL is also setting up an integrated 2G + 1G Ethanol Bio-refinery at Bargarh, Odisha which is scheduled for completion by March 2024.

In the renewables space, BPCL aspires to build 1 gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2025 and 10 GW by 2040 - through both organic and as well as inorganic routes. BPCL will be investing approximately ₹ 1,000 crore to set up two 50MW captive wind power plants in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to support the refineries in Mumbai and Bina.

In line with the government efforts towards boosting Green Hydrogen capacity, BPCL is also setting up a Green Hydrogen Plant at the Bina Refinery to meet the hydrogen requirements of the refinery.

Speaking about BPCL’s plans for the forthcoming rights issue, Mr. G. Krishnakumar said, “The initiatives under Project Aspire and the Net-Zero targets require substantial investments and the same are proposed to be funded through a combination of equity and debt, in addition to internal generations. In pursuit of this, BPCL has proposed a rights issue of equity capital of upto ₹ 18,000 crore towards funding of projects relating to Energy Transition, Net Zero and Energy Security Objectives”.

About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL):

Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the premier integrated energy companies in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with a significant presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the elite club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy.

Bharat Petroleum’s Refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina Refinery have a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, energy stations, aviation service stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 21,000 Energy Stations, over 6,200 LPG distributorships, 525 Lubes distributorships, 123 POL storage locations, 53 LPG Bottling Plants, 70 Aviation Service Stations, 4 Lube blending plants and 4 cross-country pipelines.

Bharat Petroleum is integrating its strategy, investments, environmental and social ambitions to move towards a sustainable planet. The company has chalked out the plan to offer electric vehicle charging stations at around 7000 energy stations over next 5 years.

With a focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing a vibrant ecosystem and a road-map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting innumerable initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation, skill development, health, community development, capacity building and employee volunteering. With ‘Energising Lives’ as its core purpose, Bharat Petroleum’s vision is to be the most admired global energy company leveraging talent, innovation & Technology.

Sustainable Fuel: Bharat Petroleum Pioneers Ethanol Blended Diesel and Flex Fuel Program

• BPCL showcases commitment to sustainable fuel solutions by promoting alternative fuels and reducing carbon emissions
• Flag off event features motorcycles fueled by Flex Fuel (Petrol blended with 27% ethanol, E27 & Petrol blended with 85 % ethanol) and bus fueled by ED7 (Diesel blended with 7% ethanol), demonstrating the potential of these innovative fuel options
• The pilot program marks an important milestone in this journey, showcasing BPCL's leadership and innovation in the pursuit of a cleaner and more sustainable future

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., a leading provider in the energy sector, and Ashok Leyland have initiated a pilot program to test the effectiveness of ED7 (Diesel blended with 7 % Ethanol) fuel. This program aims to transform India's bio-fuel economy and achieve a stable energy mix.

The ED7 (Diesel blended with 7 % Ethanol) fuel blend, developed by BPCL-R&D, consists of 93% diesel and 7% ethanol. The blend has undergone rigorous testing and validation on engine test bench in collaboration with Ashok Leyland.

Shri G. Krishnakumar, Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL, said, “In pursuit of India’s commitment towards NET ZERO, BPCL is developing sustainable fuel options under the clean fuel development program in association with leading automotive OEM’s, Ashok Leyland and Hero MotoCorp is committed towards developing sustainable fuel options. BPCL has commenced supply of E20 in many cities across the nation. Today’s flag off of the Pilot ED7(Diesel blended with 7% Ethanol) for buses with Ashok Leyland and flex fuels (E27&E85) for two wheelers along with Hero Mototcorp is a step by BPCL towards our country's aim of reducing import bill & providing sustainability. Increased use of Ethanol enables farmers transforming from अन्नदाता से उर्जादाता। This world environment day, BPCL takes a lead to move towards cleaner fuels for a better tomorrow.”

Shri Sukhmal Jain, Director (Marketing), BPCL, said, “BPCL has been a pioneer in Fuel Retailing initiatives, leading the transformation towards a sustainable future. The field pilot of ED7 (Diesel blended with 7% Ethanol) and Flexi Fuel is an ambitious initiative to enhance the economic prosperity of large farming population and its contribution in India’s GDP, as well as drive a change to a cleaner and greener future.”

Ashok Leyland conducted extensive laboratory trials on their engines using the ED7 (Diesel blended with 7 % Ethanol) fuel. The ED7 (Diesel blended with 7% Ethanol) fuel blend showcases a remarkable reduction in pollution levels, including Particulate Matter and Nitrogen oxides (NOx). The blend can be seamlessly adopted by diesel vehicles without requiring any significant modifications in engine. After pilot program, a comprehensive report will be submitted to ARAI, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, for developing roadmap for commercial implementation of the fuel. With ethanol readily available in India, the study targets to establish ethanol blend in diesel to the tune of 7%, with an aim to reduce energy bill for the country.

Hero MotoCorp, in alignment with its vision of being the future of mobility, has developed a Flex-Fuel Prototype at its Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in Jaipur. The vehicle, equipped with a 125cc BS6 engine, can run on ethanol-blended petrol mixtures ranging from 20% (E20) to 85% (E85) ethanol blends. The Flex-Fuel Prototype utilizes advanced software to detect the ethanol blend in the fuel and adjust engine control parameters accordingly, ensuring a trouble-free riding experience. The engine's performance and emissions remain uncompromised across the entire blend range.

BPCL, Ashok Leyland, and Hero MotoCorp's initiatives mark significant milestones in India's journey towards a greener and more sustainable future, aligning with the Government of India's vision to promote renewable fuel technologies, reduce carbon emissions, and foster economic stability.

About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL):

Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the premier integrated energy companies in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with a significant presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the elite club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy.

Bharat Petroleum’s Refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina Refinery have a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, energy stations, aviation service stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 21,000 Energy Stations, over 6,200 LPG distributorships, 525 Lubes distributorships, 123 POL storage locations, 53 LPG Bottling Plants, 70 Aviation Service Stations, 4 Lube blending plants and 4 cross-country pipelines.

Bharat Petroleum is integrating its strategy, investments, environmental and social ambitions to move towards a sustainable planet. The company has chalked out the plan to offer electric vehicle charging stations at around 7000 energy stations over next 5 years.

With a focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing a vibrant ecosystem and a road-map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting innumerable initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation, skill development, health, community development, capacity building and employee volunteering. With ‘Energising Lives’ as its core purpose, Bharat Petroleum’s vision is to be the most admired global energy company leveraging talent, innovation & technology.

With 164 Patents Filed, Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) R&D Center Revolutionizes the Fuel Industry with Breakthrough Innovations

• BPCL Introduces Ethanol-Diesel Blend for Cleaner Emissions
• The R&D division has filed 164 patents for cutting-edge innovations
• Adopts Innovative Approach to Valorizing Bio-refinery Waste
• BPCL Unveils Groundbreaking Technologies for rapid crude oil sourcing and Real-Time Refinery Monitoring and Optimization
• BPCL R&D Develops High-Efficiency LPG Burner for Energy Conservation

BPCL R&D Centers have been at the forefront of technological advancements. Since its establishment in 2001, the Corporate R&D Centre has provided a platform for breakthrough research and development. Together with the Lubes R&D Centre, a leading hub in lubricant research, BPCL R&D continues to contribute to a greener and cleaner fuels. Its research areas have evolved over the years, focusing on carbon capture and utilization, green hydrogen, biofuels, advanced clean fuel, petrochemicals, and business sustainability. These strategic focus areas align with the company's commitment to environmental stewardship and energy transition.

In view of this, Bharat Petroleum's Research & Development (R&D) division proudly presents its state-of-the-art facilities and strategic focus areas at the Corporate R&D Centre in Greater Noida. With a commitment to innovative and sustainable solutions, BPCL R&D has gained international recognition as a leading research center.

Over the years, the division has achieved remarkable milestones, including 164 Patents filed for cutting-edge innovations, 87 Patents granted across multiple countries, 17 Technologies/products commercialized and over 230+ Scientific papers and Book chapters. Notable innovations include the development of "Green Silica" from rice straw-based 2G Bio-refinery ash, compostable biomaterials, and Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) products.

Aligned with Bharat Petroleum's sustainability agenda and Net Zero Mission, BPCL R&D has undertaken initiatives like the Diesel-Ethanol blend to reduce emissions. The division's digital advancements and collaborations with renowned institutions have fostered the knowledge economy and innovation culture.

Shri G. Krishnakumar, Chairman & Managing Director, BPCL, said, “With ‘Energising Lives’ as our core purpose, our mission is leveraging talent, innovation & technology and always being the first choice of customers. Our dynamic R&D team, brimming with creativity, has successfully developed a multitude of cutting-edge technologies, innovative products and processes that have not only increased our profitability but also significantly reduced our environmental footprint. Their continuous pursuit for excellence has led us to attain numerous accolades such as an extensive patent portfolio”.

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon'ble Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said, "Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi, BPCL is remarkably pushing the boundaries of technology and sustainability through its cutting-edge R&D initiatives. I congratulate the team BPCL for continuous pursuit for excellence, contributing significantly to India's energy landscape and reinforce our position as a global leader in innovation."

Focused on carbon capture, green hydrogen, biofuels, clean fuels, petrochemicals, and business sustainability, BPCL R&D drives excellence and innovation in these areas. Its cutting-edge facilities, Motivated team of Scientists, Engineers and Administrative Staff, and strategic partnerships are at the forefront of technological advancements.

BPCL-R&D has also achieved a significant milestone in the digital space. It has developed two novel technologies, namely the K Model for crude compatibility and BPMARRK® for quick and accurate real-time crude assay. BPCL is the only company at the global level to achieve this milestone in the oil and gas sector. Recently, a collaboration agreement was inked with the world leader in Refinery Software business, M/s Aspen Technology Inc. USA, to provide a unique solution to the refinery world for real-time monitoring and optimization of refinery units, along with BPCL BPMARRK® software.

To address India's import dependency for gas, which currently caters to 50% of the country's 44MMTPA gas demand, BPCL-R&D is working on the development of an energy-efficient PNG burner. Notably, BPCL-R&D has successfully developed a PNG burner with an efficiency of 70%, surpassing the reported 55% efficiency so far. The plan is to conduct a pilot and roll out the energy-efficient PNG stove during FY 2023-24, contributing to a reduction in import dependency.

We are investing heavily in these upcoming areas both in terms of manpower and infrastructure. I believe innovations in these areas can not only give BPCL competitive advantage and also create sustainable business environment; while contributing for the nations net zero ambition and thus making the world better place to live for the future generation.

About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL):

Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the premier integrated energy companies in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with a significant presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the elite club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy.

Bharat Petroleum’s Refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina Refinery have a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, energy stations, aviation service stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 21,000 Energy Stations, over 6,200 LPG distributorships, 525 Lubes distributorships, 123 POL storage locations, 53 LPG Bottling Plants, 70 Aviation Service Stations, 4 Lube blending plants and 4 cross-country pipelines.

Bharat Petroleum is integrating its strategy, investments, environmental and social ambitions to move towards a sustainable planet. The company has chalked out the plan to offer electric vehicle charging stations at around 7000 energy stations over next 5 years.

With a focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing a vibrant ecosystem and a road-map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting innumerable initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation, skill development, health, community development, capacity building and employee volunteering. With ‘Energising Lives’ as its core purpose, Bharat Petroleum’s vision is to be the most admired global energy company leveraging talent, innovation & technology.

Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) Signs MoU with Speed Force for Co-branded Two-Wheeler Garages

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a leading player in the oil and gas industry, has announced its strategic partnership with Speed Force (A Ready Assist Company), India's largest chain of multi-brand two-wheeler franchise, to establish a chain of co-branded two-wheeler garages across the country.

Under the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), MAK Lubricants from BPCL and Speed Force will jointly develop co-branded MAK Serve garages across the country for a period of five years. This collaboration aims to provide a cost-effective business model for entrepreneurs to establish new garages while ensuring standardized service quality.

The MoU signing ceremony took place in the august presence of Shri P. Sudhahar , Executive Director (Lubes) at BPCL, who highlighted BPCL's pioneering initiatives in the industry. Shri Abhay Shah, Chief General Manager Marketing (Lubes) at BPCL, and Shri Kapil Bhindi, Director (Business) from Speed Force, signed the MoU. The event was graced by Shri Akash Tiwari, Chief General Manager Marketing (Lubes), and other senior members from the Lubes HQ team.

Shri P. Sudhahar , Executive Director (Lubes), BPCL, stated that "On behalf of team MAK, we are happy to have partnered with Speed Force. BPCL and SpeedForce are committed to providing exceptional service quality and convenience to customers, revolutionizing the two-wheeler servicing experience in India. With the combined expertise and reach of both entities, the partnership aims to set new benchmarks in the industry."

As part of the strategic business model, the co-branded garages will directly engage with customers, fostering brand loyalty and positioning the MAK brand at the forefront. These garages will exclusively offer the MAK range of products for two-wheeler servicing, ensuring the use of high-quality lubricants.

The partnership will commence with the establishment of MAK Serve garages in select cities across the country. The BPCL-Speed Force partnership is set to transform the two-wheeler service industry, offering unparalleled convenience, reliability, and brand assurance. This tie-up represents a significant milestone in MAK Lubricants' commitment to serving customers with top-notch service quality and exceptional products.

About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL):

Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the premier integrated energy companies in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with a significant presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the elite club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy.

Bharat Petroleum’s Refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina Refinery have a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, energy stations, aviation service stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 21,000 Energy Stations, over 6,200 LPG distributorships, 525 Lubes distributorships, 123 POL storage locations, 53 LPG Bottling Plants, 70 Aviation Service Stations, 4 Lube blending plants and 4 cross-country pipelines.

Bharat Petroleum is integrating its strategy, investments, environmental and social ambitions to move towards a sustainable planet. The company has chalked out the plan to offer electric vehicle charging stations at around 7000 energy stations over next 5 years.

With a focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing a vibrant ecosystem and a road-map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting innumerable initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation, skill development, health, community development, capacity building and employee volunteering. With ‘Energising Lives’ as its core purpose, Bharat Petroleum’s vision is to be the most admired global energy company leveraging talent, innovation & technology.

Govt To Sell Its Entire Stake In BPCL For $6.9 Billion - Report

Government of India is moving with plans to sell its entire stake in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), India's second-biggest state refiner, according to people familiar with the matter, said a Bloomberg report.

Mumbai-headquartered BPCL is an Indian government oil and gas corporation under the ownership of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India. The government has 53% stake in the BPCL, which is valued at about INR 509 billion ($6.9 billion).

Since the last week of April, government has allowed bidders access to the financial data of BPCL and some bidders have even held meetings with BPCL management, said the report citing one of the people privy to the development.

Privatization of BPCL could be the India’s biggest and crucial at the same time as the government needs to raise capital to make up the fall in tax revenues as the pandemic hits the Indian economy. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said last month the plan to raise about $23 billion from selling stakes in state-run companies, including BPCL.

BPCL is India's 2nd largest downstream oil company and is ranked 275th on the Fortune list of the world's biggest corporations as of 2019. BPCL ranked 672 in the Forbes 2018 list. It also has its subsidiaries -- Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), Petronet LNG and Bharat Renewable Energy Limited.

Besides central government, the government of Madhya Pradesh also has a minor stake in BPCL through compulsorily convertible warrants. 

On Mar 2021, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) sold its entire 61.5% stake in Numaligarh Refinery in Assam to a consortium of Oil India Ltd. and Engineers India Ltd. and Government of Assam for ₹9,876 crore.

Bharat Petroleum Develops Novel Technology to Test Crude Oil Quality

The country's second largest national oil marketer Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd has developed a novel technology to test the quality of crude oil at a fraction of the cost and time that it takes now through the lengthy lab tests.

The technology, which has a number of patents including those from the US and the EU, is a 'crude horoscope predictor tool' called BPMarrk, which can optimise varied properties from the crude.

The company is also in talks with leading international players in the crude assaying industry like Aspen, the largest in the segment, Honeywell, and Emerson, R Ramachandran, Director (Refineries), at BPCL said.

"The traditional way of assaying takes 30-45 days for a complete testing and the cost averages at Rs 25 lakh. But the BPMarrk takes around 30 minutes for a four-stage test. We can offer it at a fraction of the present cost but we haven't decided on the pricing part yet," he told PTI.

Ramachandran also said the company is planning to use the technology as an advance control product for product optimisation and is going to apply for patents for this as well.

On talks with American bodies, he said, "we have made presentations to Aspen, Emerson and Honeywell but no deal has been finalised yet".

BPCL has been developing the technology since FY16 and reached commercial production stage two years ago.

Since then, it has made a detailed presentation to the American Petroleum Institute which is the global body that codifies the testing standards for the industry. The institute was keen to develop this tool as an alternate standard, provided BPCL shared the entire details, but the company refused, a source at the company said.

A salient and industry-friendly use of the tool is that it can help update the crude assays of oil wells wherein the properties get changed with ageing, according to Ramachandran.

"Gone are the days of lengthy laboratory tests called assaying for crude. The R&D team of Bharat Petroleum has developed a crude horoscope predictor tool called 'BPMarrk' to correctly predict crude oil properties," he said.

Describing their innovation as a game-changer, Ramachandran said BPMarrk can predict around 500 properties of any crude using four parameters and can help generate the output within an hour compared to the other conventional processes which require three-four weeks of laboratory testing.

The tool has been built by testing more than 100 types of crudes from different regions.

This universal tool can be used by multiple stakeholders across the crude value-chain for fast business and operational decisions related to crude buying/ booking and price negotiations.

BPMarrk can also enable oil suppliers, international trades and supply-chain optimisation for advanced planning, crude selection and also for process engineers for unit-level optimisation of refinery operations.

BPCL is in the process of partnering with a leading international consultant for real-time optimisation.

The development could be highly useful for small downstream players like domestic companies and standalone refiners, given the fact that industry majors like Aramco, Exxon, Shell, Total or BP would have their own independent tools to do faster assaying as they are all into the entire value chain of the oil and gas sector, say analysts. PTI BEN

Bharat Petroleum Forays into Swappable Li-ion Battery supply for Electric 3-Wheelers

Eyeing opportunities in the wake of disruption expected from electric vehicles, oil major Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited on Monday launched 'e-drive initiative' an electric three-wheeler mobility model.

Partnering with electric vehicle-maker Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions and IIT Madras for technology support, the public sector oil marketing giant brought on stream a supply of swappable lithium-ion batteries at its retail outlets in Kochi and Lucknow in the first phase for
electric three-wheelers.

According to the business model touted as unique, fleets of three-wheelers, also known as 'e-rickshaws,' are deployed in the two cities by Kinetic Green which also owns them and drivers pay rental for use of vehicles and a fee for energy provided by BPCL. There is, however, no maintenance cost.

Chairman and managing director, BPCL, D Rajkumar said rising air pollution, increasing disposable incomes and rapid urbanisation would drive future mobility in India.

"Electric vehicles would be having an increasing share of the urban transportation canvass in the years to come," he said adding: "We are happy to have collaborated with two strong partners, the IIT Madras for technological support and Kinetic Green as a mobility partner."

The operations in Kochi and Lucknow were inaugurated through video conferencing from here and a giant screen beamed e-rickshaws lining up to change batteries at BPCL outlets and the process of swapping was over in a matter of few minutes, similar to the time taken for filling petrol or diesel.

The three-wheelers are powered by two batteries and when the charge drains, it could be brought to the BPCL outlets where it would be replaced with fully charged ones.

CEO, Kinetic Green, Sulajja Firodia Motwani said the electric vehicle with swappable battery technology reduced upfront the cost of vehicle by 50 per cent. "Customers never have to worry about battery charging and replacement."

General Manager, BPCL, Rahul Tandon told reporters, "we are in active discussion with Kinetic to launch it in seven more cities in the next phase depending on licencing (for e-three wheelers)."

The cost of two batteries, needed to run a single e-rickshaw is Rs 60,000 to Rs 65,000 and it is borne by the BPCL, he said answering a question.

The usage fee for drivers is between Rs 350 and Rs 400 for a single swap of two batteries and the twin Li-ion batteries provide a range of 50-55 kms, he said.

On investments for this venture, he said: "It is too early and too small at this stage but we have huge plans of going forward."

Also, he said this was only a first initiative to be prepared for any change that may happen in the
market.

Motwani said the rollout at Lucknow and Kochi was on a pilot basis. A fleet of 20 vehicles each in Kochi and Lucknow is in place and it would be expanded to 100 later and the investment for a single e-rickshaw is about Rs one lakh sans battery. "This is a new concept and we are promoting it."

In Kochi, while operations would only be at metro rail stations, at Lucknow it covers Metro and other urban areas as well, she told reporters.

"We have a special agreement with Kochi Metro and they want to promote electric three-wheelers for connectivity." E-rickshaws normally charge Rs 10 for commuters and the model will also address the last mile connectivity issue for users of Metrorail, she said.

Electric vehicles are expected to cause disruption in the present automobile and auto component ecosystem and in 2018 Indian Oil had partnered with Fortum India for electric vehicle-charging stations.

Last year, the Central government notified the second phase of the FAME India scheme with a Rs 10,000-crore outlay to encourage electric and hybrid vehicles.

Bharat Petroleum Launches Startup Grand Slam with Mega Prize Money

Bharat Petroleum Corporation India leading fuel retailer has launched BPCL Startup Grand Slam Season#1; a Grand Challenge for startups in India. Under this challenge BPCL has publicized 6 problem statements across IoT Analytics AI-ML Asset Performance Management Mobility Solutions CRM etc. consisting BPCL business challenges and invited visionary and innovative startups in India to propose solutions for these problem statements.

Winner of each challenge statement shall be given a grant of Rs. 50 Lacs and also an opportunity to carry out the PoC (Proof of Concept) of the same with BPCL. BPCL also plans to release additional funds of up to Rs. 1.5 Cr to the winning startups if the proposed solution is scalable and required additional funds to do so.



Startups from can apply for BPCL Startup Grand Slam Season#1 on Startup India portal. The last date for applications is 2nd February 2020.Winners shall be selected through a two round process. Finalists shortlisted from the first round have to pitch their solutions in the final round to a jury panel consisting of eminent personalities from startup incubators accelerators VC firms other investors academia as well as experts from Oil Gas industry.

The Startup Grand Season#1 is being organized by BPCL under its Startup support initiative Ankur. Launched in 2016 with the aim to promote promising start-ups and nurture an eco-system conducive for innovations in the country BPCL Ankur initiative has supported 25 startups thus far with a cumulative grant funding of Rs. 25 Cr.

Realizing that although providing grants is really helpful Startups need more support beyond finance to find their footing and commercialize their products BPCL Ankur also offers

• Collaboration and mentoring support for product development


• Access to test facilities labs and business challenges to turn your ideas into fine products and solutions


• Connect with partner eco-systems industry peers and many B2B customers to expand your business


• Challenges campaigns networking events meet ups to build a thriving and connected startup eco-system

Along the way Startups supported by BPCL Ankur have developed many innovative products and solutions. Bandicoot - a robotic system developed by Genrobotic Innovations for manhole and sewer line cleaning aimed at the complete elimination of manual scavenging Inspection of underwater structures tanks through submersible robots by Planys technologies drone based inspection technique developed by Detect Technologies for refinery stack inspection aresome of these innovative solutions that are transforming their respective spheres of activity.

BPCL Ankur is turning a new leaf with Startup Grand Slam Season#1 expanding the outreach of the program and exploring innovative engagement models with startups to make positive impact on the overall Startup eco-system in the country.

~ Newsvoir