India: LPG industry welcomes UN advice to switch to greener fuels and urges to update type-approval norms for vehicle conversions

Energy experts welcomed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ advice to India to phase out fossil fuels to combat climate change, saying it is possible to shift to renewable energy but the government needs an inclusive and comprehensive action plan to ensure a just energy transition and livelihood of workers.

The experts felt that Guterres’ remarks come timely and it can be a moment for India to create its global climate ambition but at the same time they raised concern over the country’s need for financial and technological support.

Suyash Gupta, Director General of the Indian Auto LPG Coalition, termed Guterres’ plea to India to invest in clean energy as important, saying it can create new job opportunities and help recover the economy. Gupta added that it was important to make well-informed decisions to bring about the transition and suggested replacing high carbon fuels like petrol and diesel in the transport sector with low carbon fuels like Autogas.

Moreover, the Auto LPG Coalition is seeking alignment of India’s type-approval norms for the installation of LPG/CNG kits in vehicles with European standards, saying the prevalent norms are a major impediment to clean air goal.

The coalition has written a letter to Dinesh Tyagi, Director International Centre for Automotive Technology, saying irrational type-approval norms regulating aftermarket conversions is the biggest impediment to the growth of eco-friendly automotive fuels like Autogas and to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting cleaner fuels in transportation. Copies of the letter were also sent to Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.

The statement urged Tyagi, who is chairman of the committee deliberating on type-approval requirements in India, to consider the sector’s collective appeal and align type approval norms for retro-fitment of LPG/CNG kits with European standards. For more information, please check these two links.

30 September 2020