IOC plans LPG-fuelled crematoria

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is seeing a new business opportunity in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fired crematorium. The company is considering to launch a pilot project at Chennai. Depending on the success of the project, IOC may plan similar facilities in other cities. “Success of the pilot project in Chennai may open the possibility of installing the same in other cities,” said a company source. It is a win-win situation for both IOC and the society. While the move would reduce de-forestation and pollution, it would help IOC in enhancing sales of profit-making, non-subsidised domestic LPG (cooking gas). About 12-18 kg of LPG (depending upon weight) is required to cremate a body.

The proposed venture is being set up in partnership with Vijay Gas Agencies, the Coimbatore-based Indane distributor. (Indane is IOC’s domestic LPG arm). IOC will share 50% of the cost of the pilot project.It is learnt that Vijay Gas has developed a fully automated, PLC-controlled LPG-fired crematorium with primary and secondary chambers and a 30-meter high stack to fulfil stringent emission norms for incinerators set up by Central Pollution Control Board. The facility will be operated and maintained by Vijay Gas for six months. After that, it would be transferred to the Chennai Corporation. During this period, IOC would supply indented non-domestic LPG in the form of 19-kg cylinders. According to the source, it has proposed to forge a JV to install LPG-fired furnaces in crematorium in Chennai. Besides reducing de-forestation, furnaces also offer a new business opportunity for enhancing non-domestic LPG usage in the country, the source said.

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