India’s merchandise exports jump by 17.25% in Oct
The trade deficit was widened to USD 27.14 billion. Imports increased by 3.9% to USD 66.34 billion in October compared to USD 63.86 billion in the year-ago period.
India has launched its first petroleum Research & Development (R&D) facility for testing high-end BS-VI quality fuel emissions, according to an official here.
Operated by state-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the R&D facility is designed to test all types of fuel including petrol, diesel, ethanol-blended petrol, bio-diesel, CNG, LNG, hydrogen-CNG and 2G-ethanol blends to ensure they meet the superior BS-VI norms that are to be implemented across the country by April 2020, a Petroleum Ministry statement said.
This "first-of-its kind" facility was inaugurated by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Faridabad in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Saturday.
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"In addition to generating emission data, the facility will also evaluate the fuel blends for energy-efficiency and engine durability," it said.
On the occasion, Pradhan complimented the IOC scientists for developing a "nano-additised battery for use in e-rickshaws, with better efficiency and longer life than commercially available batteries."
"The minister also lauded the efforts of Indian Oil R&D in commercialising Indane Nanocut — the industrial version of LPG for the metal-cutting industry."
Pradhan hoped IOC would take a "quantum leap" in alternative and renewable fuel research arenas in the next 3-4 years, the statement added.
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