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MOTORINDIA
l
August 2012
year and time has to be devoted to
the ‘educational’ process in-terms
of communicating the enormous
benefits that these changes would
bring to the transport community,
especially the petroleum transport
sector.
Currently, we are ready and im-
mediately available to provide this
kind of tanks and trailers to the In-
dian market, with the knowledge
and expertise gained from over 100
years of continuous service to fuel
transporters globally.
Q. How do you compare the
technology used in India for
transportation of petroleum prod-
ucts with that in other developed
countries?
A. Now that the Petroleum Act
has been amended to allow for high-
capacity tankers, including those
built with aluminium, India now has
an excellent opportunity to dramati-
cally transform downstream logis-
tics and distribution for fuel deliver-
ies countrywide.
While there will remain many
sites where a smaller rigid truck will
need to be utilized, there are also a
number of high-
way sites, com-
mercial locations
and fuels bridg-
ing opportunities
for higher capac-
ity semi-trailers,
of up to 40,000
litres, when us-
ing light-weight
aluminium.
These higher capacity semi-trail-
ers, when coupled with the new and
efficient prime movers that have ap-
peared on the transport scene, can
in many cases reduce diesel con-
sumption by as much as 10 per cent
when compared to using mild steel
semi-trailers, which legally can only
be built to 36,000 litres given the
weight differential between alumin-
ium and mild steel. The lifespan of
aluminium tanks and semi-trailers
is also longer than similar mild steel
models and their resale value over
time is substantially more as well, in
view of the fact that aluminium does
not corrode. Aluminium equipment
should also play a far greater role in
aviation refuelling since aluminium
barrels do not require lining, which
deteriorates over time causing fuel
contamination.
Q. Do you think the revision of
the Indian Petroleum Act would
drive India’s growth to position it
in line with other developed mar-
kets?
applications