Indian Oil Corporation (IndianOil) is accelerating its sustainability strategy with a net-zero operational emissions target by 2046, supported by investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen, energy efficiency, ethanol blending, compressed biogas, sustainable aviation fuel and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
India’s leading oil company is pursuing multiple decarbonization pathways as it seeks to reduce emissions from existing operations while building a larger presence across emerging low-carbon energy businesses, IndianOil Sustainability Report 2025-26 indicated.
IndianOil’s reported combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions stand at approximately 1.63 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e), including a reported 0.09 MtCO2e methane component.
Its value-chain emissions are considerably larger, with reported Scope 3 emissions of approximately 351.09 MtCO2e to 353.88 MtCO2e. Addressing this wider emissions footprint alongside operational emissions represents a major long-term challenge as IndianOil progresses toward its climate objectives.
2046 Net-Zero Target Drives IndianOil Climate Strategy
IndianOil’s commitment to achieve net-zero operational emissions by 2046 provides the foundation for its long-term decarbonization roadmap.
The strategy combines improvements to existing refinery and operational infrastructure with renewable electricity, alternative fuels and emerging technologies such as green hydrogen.
Energy efficiency is already delivering measurable results through IndianOil’s Energy Conservation, or ENCON, program.
The company has implemented 214 energy-conservation initiatives covering furnace and boiler efficiency, fuel switching and resid upgrading.
These projects have generated cumulative energy savings of approximately 4,14,126 SRFT per year and helped avoid approximately 1.24 MtCO2e of greenhouse gas emissions.
Operational efficiency is therefore emerging as an important near-term route for IndianOil to lower emissions while larger renewable and clean-energy projects are developed.
IndianOil Targets 2,750 MW Renewable Energy Capacity by 2030
Renewable energy expansion represents a major component of IndianOil’s sustainability strategy.
The company currently has approximately 258 MW of clean-energy capacity and plans to increase this to 2,750 MW by 2030, representing a substantial expansion of its renewable portfolio.
IndianOil has also secured 2.65 GW of Interstate Transmission System connectivity through Terra Clean Ltd to support the development and integration of renewable-energy projects.
Land aggregation initiatives covering approximately 800 MW of potential renewable capacity are progressing as part of the expansion strategy.
IndianOil also plans to integrate renewable electricity directly into its core refining business. Electricity requirements associated with new refinery capacity are expected to be met directly through renewable-energy sources, helping limit the additional operational emissions associated with future expansion.
10 KTPA Green Hydrogen Plant at Panipat Advances Decarbonization
Green hydrogen is another major component of IndianOil’s transition toward lower-carbon operations.
Construction is underway on a 10 KTPA green hydrogen plant at Panipat, strengthening the company’s presence in one of the emerging technologies expected to play an important role in industrial decarbonization.
Green hydrogen produced using renewable electricity could help reduce dependence on conventionally produced hydrogen in energy-intensive industrial processes and provide another pathway toward IndianOil’s 2046 net-zero operational emissions goal.
IndianOil Achieves 18 Percent Ethanol Blending
IndianOil is simultaneously expanding alternative fuels as it seeks to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels.
The company has achieved average ethanol blending of 18 percent in petrol, moving closer to the 20 percent ethanol-blending target.
IndianOil is also advancing initiatives involving Compressed Biogas (CBG) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), broadening its lower-carbon fuel portfolio across road transportation and aviation.
These alternative fuels are particularly relevant for transportation applications where complete electrification may take longer to achieve.
IndianOil Expands EV Charging Network to Around 14,000 Stations
Electric mobility infrastructure represents another pillar of IndianOil’s clean-energy strategy.
The company is supporting EV adoption through a targeted network of approximately 14,000 electric vehicle charging stations across major Indian cities.
The expansion allows IndianOil to participate in the shift from conventional transportation fuels toward electricity while leveraging its extensive presence in India’s mobility-energy market.
EV charging complements the company’s investments in ethanol, CBG, SAF and green hydrogen, giving IndianOil exposure to multiple technologies that could shape the future transportation-energy mix.
IndianOil Sustainability Leadership Focuses on Energy Transition
IndianOil’s sustainability and non-financial reporting activities include leadership from Pravin T. Dongre, Executive Director (Sustainable Development).
A. S. Sahney, Chairman of IndianOil, has emphasized innovation and digital transformation as important drivers of sustainability and the evolving energy transition.
The company’s sustainability roadmap increasingly combines emissions management with investments designed to create new clean-energy capabilities.
IndianOil Builds Multi-Technology Roadmap to Net Zero
The scale of IndianOil’s energy transition is reflected across several major sustainability targets and projects.
Its strategy combines a 2046 net-zero operational emissions commitment, a renewable-energy capacity target of 2,750 MW by 2030, 2.65 GW of Interstate Transmission System connectivity, land aggregation initiatives covering approximately 800 MW, and construction of a 10 KTPA green hydrogen plant at Panipat.
In transportation, IndianOil has reached 18 percent ethanol blending against a 20 percent target and is expanding CBG and SAF initiatives while targeting a network of approximately 14,000 EV charging stations.
At the operational level, 214 ENCON projects have delivered approximately 4,14,126 SRFT per year in cumulative energy savings and helped avoid around 1.24 MtCO2e of greenhouse gas emissions.
With combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions of approximately 1.63 MtCO2e and Scope 3 emissions of approximately 351.09 MtCO2e to 353.88 MtCO2e, the scale of IndianOil’s decarbonization challenge remains significant.
Progress toward the 2046 net-zero target will therefore depend on continued improvements in operational efficiency alongside the rapid expansion of renewable power, green hydrogen, alternative fuels and electric mobility infrastructure.
SHAFANA FAZAL
