07.01.
2020
Conservation of Fuel –
The Need of the Hour
“Fuel conservation is an essential aspect of
discussion in terms of sustainability development”
During the year 2018-19, diesel consumption in
the country increased by almost 3% (83.5 million
tonnes) and petrol consumption by 8% (28.3
million tonnes) compared to the preceding block
year, according to honorable Minister for
Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) Shri
Dharmendra Pradhan in response to a query in
the Lok Sabha during the Monson Season of
Parliament. According to the data released by
MoPNG the auto fuel consumption during the
2018-19 block year was 4% higher than the
preceding block year. To meet the increased
demand, petrol and diesel worth ₹5,615 crore
was imported during the year 2018-19. According
to the data available at the Ministry’s website the
consumption of diesel has increased around 10%
and petrol around 19% in last two years. The
consumption is expected to increase further this
year, according to the sources
The increased consumption of these non-
renewables leads to higher import, causing
financial burden on the country’s economy,
thereby increased prices of petroleum products.
Higher the non-renewable fuel consumption,
higher the pollution. Industrial fuel requirement
adds to the overall consumption thus pollution.
The thermal power generation efficiency of a
typical coal-based power plant is around 40% and
since the majority of the power consumption in
the country is through coal-based power, the
higher electricity consumption would mean higher
fuel (coal) burning producing toxic gases and
environmental hazards.
The country’s capital is one of the worst suffers of The Government has already taken various
air pollution, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) initiatives to spread awareness for fuel
touched over 900 mark in some areas this year, conservation. Apart from the public awareness
far exceeding the level of 25 deemed safe by the programmes, rallies, advertisements, in line with
WHO, and well above even the 500-mark the latest technology and understanding the
deemed “severe plus”. reach of the smart phones among all age-groups
an android application - “PCRA2 – Fuel Saving
The primary energy consumption in India grew by
Tips” – is developed in public interest by
7.9% in 2018 with global share 5.8% which is
Petroleum conservation Research Association
expected to almost double by 2035. The price of
(Under MoPNG) for educating the masses about
energy, in particular fossil fuel, is inevitably on a
the conservation of fuel and energy by
long-term upward path and the global recession
implementing simple tips. Simple tips to save
means everybody has lesser money to spare.
LPG in domestic sector, petrol/diesel in transport
Thus, the increased consumption of these fossil
sector, diesel in agriculture sector and fuel/
fuels in the recent times have raised eyebrows of
energy in industrial sector is provided and
not only the environmentalist but the economists
explained. By adopting these simple tips, both
as well concerned with the fate of the country in
money and fuel can be saved on a regular basis
term of non-renewable fuels and its consumption
and also contribute in conservation of petroleum
patterns. Therefore, fuel conservation is an
products. The app also features indicative
essential aspect of discussion in terms of
potential savings by adopting different tips in
sustainability development which is to be
domestic, transport and industrial sectors.
accomplished by awareness of the masses.
Analysing the situation with a discerning eye, we
Resorting to renewable energy sources of power
realise that this is the high time that not just the
such as solar, wind, tidal in power sector, steps
government, we as a responsible citizen of the
such as vehicle pooling, use of public transport in
country take pledge for minimizing consumption
transport sector, use of metal pans such as
of non-renewable energy resources, thus saving
stainless steel for cooking with a wider pan and
our environment from the ill-effects caused by
saving electricity when not in use - promoting the
their excessive usage and also preserve these
concept of one unit energy saved is two units of
valuable resources for the future generations.
energy produced in our households are the need
of the hour. A large portion of the overall fuel “We may not be the first generation to feel the
consumption is attributed to the automobile scarcity of non-renewable resource, thus we
sector, the engineers suggest strategies such as should ensure that we are not the last to utilize
to accelerate with care to minimize the use of them”
brakes, frequent cleaning of filters, maintaining
tire pressure as methods to save fuel while -Ekansh Dwivedi
driving. Electric Vehicles (EVs) have the potential The writer is working as Senior Engineer (O&M – LPG P/L)
at IPS Mansarampura, Jaipur
to save huge fuel but the EVs are much
expensive than its conventional counterparts.