India, the world’s second-largest importer of liquefied petroleum gas, finds itself severely affected by the ongoing conflict in West Asia that has disrupted global energy supplies, as it relies on the Strait of Hormuz for some of these imports.
Low LPG supplies have led to many people turning to alternative methods of cooking food including induction stoves and more, while the government has maintained that efforts are ongoing to maintain adequate supplies.
Amid this crisis, a report found that India could reduce its dependence on LPG imports by about 6.3 million tons per year by blending LPG with 20 per cent dimethyl ether (DME), which is produced from coal and gasification. The report was released by EY-Parthenon and New Era Cleantech Solution Ltd, a local coal gasification company, and is titled “Coal Gasification for Energy and Chemical Security.”
Read also: India warns Iran of consequences after attack on two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz: officials
What is dimethyl ether (DME)?
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) describes DME as a sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel. It is an industrially produced alternative fuel that can be used directly in compression ignition diesel engines specially designed for various purposes.
“Under normal atmospheric conditions, DME is a colorless gas. It is widely used in the chemical industry and as an aerosol propellant, solvent, fuel, and coolant. DME exhibits a comparable calorific value and similarity in thermal efficiency to conventional fuels; it is a clean-burning fuel with low emissions and low particulate matter,” according to CSIR.
She also said that DME is a suitable substitute or blending agent for LPG and can be used as fuel in domestic cooking gas and industries.
Various applications are being developed for DME as it can be blended with LPG up to 20%, CSIR said.
“DME can partially replace LPG imports”
According to the aforementioned report, “DME, which is produced from coal gasification, could partially replace LPG imports.” She added that blending 20 percent of DME could reduce dependence on LPG imports by about 6.3 million tons.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has already notified standards allowing blending of up to 20 per cent DMG-LPG in India, news agency PTI reported.
India currently has limited domestic production of DME on a pilot scale.
“A clear blending policy will be key to unlocking investments and scaling up domestic DME production,” said Balasaheb Darade, Managing Director, New Era Cleantech.
Countries with coal reserves can produce DME domestically through coal gasification technologies. The country with the largest DME production capacity in the world is China, at about 90 percent, due to its huge industry of converting coal into chemicals.
(With inputs from PTI)
