Date:16/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/16/stories/2007111656191900.htm

Business

BPCL’s mobile bottling capsule

Special Correspondent

The innovative concept is to reach out to rural areas and villages

24 RMVs have been positioned to fill cylinders
Pump, compressor unit form part of the vehicle

NEW DELHI: Marking a major breakthrough in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) logistics, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has designed and developed “Rural Marketing Vehicle”, essentially a mobile bottling capsule that would cater to filling needs of environmentally fragile and remote areas in a cost-effective manner.

With complaints of gas shortage and failure of LPG supplies to penetrate rural India mainly due to poor connectivity and lack of transportation facility, BPCL has come out with this innovative concept to reach out to rural areas and villages.

“Due to inaccessibility of some remote areas and lack of proper transportation, LPG marketing companies find it difficult to sell their products and provide services to such areas at reasonable cost. As a result, the population here is dependent on traditional fuels like firewood that not only cause pollution and health problems but also lead to deforestation. This is also our contribution towards protection of environment and complimented BPCL for this technological innovation,” Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Murli Deora, said.

The Rural Marketing Vehicle (RMV) consists of two units — pump and compressor unit mounted on the light commercial vehicle and a filling unit mounted on a trailer. Any LPG tank truck can be connected to the RMV for providing the product.

These tank trucks are moved separately for replenishment of bulk LPG stocks as and when required.

At present, 24 RMVs have been positioned to move around from place to place in far flung areas to fill cylinders in the midst of habitation without compromising on safety. The RMV takes LPG directly to the rural customers.