Ever-increasing Diesel Consumption is Worrisome; Are you worried too?

The ever-increasing rise of diesel oil consumption in India is worrisome for everyone. We all can contribute to curb its consumption, let’s analyse here.

As the world’s third largest energy consumer, the country has traditionally depended on oil imports to meet its growing energy demands. The over reliance not only poses challenges to energy security but also leads to a substantial outflow of foreign currency.

In this article, we would analyse the diesel oil only considering its worse impact on the environment over its counterpart petrol oil. The process of combustion with diesel oil is far more complex than with petrol. This means a far greater number of exhaust gases and chemicals are produced. Emissions from diesel engines contribute to the production of ground level ozone which damages crops, trees & other vegetables. Also, diesel vehicles emit nitrogen oxide which causes acid rain and affects the quality of soil and lakes.

We all know the bad effects of diesel usages being a fossil fuel, in spite of that, daily diesel consumption is 581940000 Liters in India as per the 2018 figure and the consumption of it is ever-increasing. There was a reduction of consumption during corona pandemic years. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), India’s diesel demand is expected to increase from 1.8 million barrels per day (mbd) in 2023 to 2.3 mbd in 2030, which is a 4.5% increase annually. As per Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), India’s annual diesel consumption is expected to rise by 3-4% in the current fiscal year, 2025.

If you further deep dive to understand the huge diesel demand of the country, it gets evident that there is a diverse applications of diesel oil like Transport sector, non-transport sector such as Tractors, Agri machineries, Generators, Agri pumps, Mobile Towers, Mining and similar applications, etc.

It appears that the transport sector accounts for 70% and agriculture sector accounts for 13% of diesel consumption at all India level. The below diagram illustrates this fact further: –

The India Government has already taken a number of initiatives to curb this ever-increasing demand like the following for the transport sector: –

• Ethanol Blending as 5% with diesel
• The government plans to switch a third of India’s truck fleet to CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)
• Hydrogen usages in transportation as an emission free fuel

Besides a number of other initiatives are already prevalent like: –

• Conversion of the diesel pumps to electric pumps/ Solar Pumps
• Diesel based power generation to Solar PV based power generation in remote/ rural areas
• Solar Rooftop Projects and DG-Grid Synchronisation
• Diesel engines to CNG engines in residential as well as commercial and industrial sectors
• Solarisation of telecom Towers that is proving clean energy to the Base Terminal Stations
• Usages of Biogas and producer gas for thermal as well as electrical applications

It has been great to be part of this journey while executing rural solar energy projects as well as solarisation of telecom towers in some of the remotest part of the country along with  promoting biogas and producer gas based technologies.

Diesel is a strategic commodity; plays a vital role in the socioeconomic development of a country. Any uncertainty about their supply can impact the functioning of the economy. The need to is to use the oil judiciously and looking for non-polluting alternative/ renewable energy options as much as possible.