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IndianOil Sends XWG Diesel to Army Units in the East Today

IndianOil Sends Extreme-Weather Diesel to Army’s Eastern Command

A train carrying IndianOil’s Xtreme Weather Grade (XWG) High Speed Diesel has left the company’s Panipat Marketing Complex for the Indian Army’s Eastern Command, taking a fuel developed for severe cold into a new part of the country.

The maiden rake was flagged off by Lt Gen Mukesh Chadha, AVSM, SM, VSM, Director General Supplies & Transport and Senior Colonel Commandant, IHQ of MoD (Army). K John Prasad, Country Head (Institutional Business), IndianOil, and M L Dahriya, Executive Director and Refinery Head, Panipat Refinery, were present at the event.

The move puts XWG diesel into use in both northern and eastern India. Until now, the special fuel had been associated mainly with high-altitude areas in the north. IndianOil said it is the first public sector oil company to position XWG diesel in the eastern region for the Army.

For soldiers and military vehicles operating in places such as Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, fuel behaviour in very low temperatures can affect day-to-day movement. Ordinary diesel contains wax-like components that can thicken as temperatures fall. This can restrict fuel flow and affect engines and fuel filters.

The new XWG grade was developed to address this problem. The Ministry of Defence said when the fuel was launched in July that it remains effective at temperatures as low as minus 42°C. It follows BS-VI standards and the IS 1460:2025 specification. It can also be used in the Army’s existing vehicles without engine modification or a new approval for the vehicle.

General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff, launched the indigenous XWG diesel in New Delhi on July 31, 2026. The Ministry of Defence said the fuel was developed jointly by the Indian Army and oil marketing companies. The stated aim was to improve the operation of combat and logistics vehicles in extreme climatic conditions. The government also said the fuel could have civilian uses in high-altitude and severe winter regions.

The Eastern Command covers areas where road access and weather can pose serious logistical problems. IndianOil had already been supplying specialised fuels to Army units in the eastern region. In 2025, the company reported discussions with the Eastern Command on supplies of all-weather-grade diesel and Low Sulphur Low Aromatic kerosene for Army units in difficult hill areas. The company also referred to the importance of the Siliguri Corridor in its discussions with the command.

Lt Gen Mukesh Chadha, AVSM, SM, VSM, DGST IHQ of MoD (Army), said:

“XWG is a potential game changer for operational preparedness and readiness in high-altitude and extreme-weather areas. He highlighted that, for the first time, this specialised fuel is being extended beyond Ladakh to support operations in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. He emphasised the need for a predictable, scalable and responsive supply chain, with the right fuel at the right place and time. He also acknowledged IndianOil’s partnership in transforming XWG Diesel from an operational requirement into an operational reality in the Eastern side”

The need for specialised diesel is not new. IndianOil introduced winter-grade diesel in November 2019 for high-altitude areas such as Ladakh, Kargil, Kaza and Keylong. That fuel had a pour point of minus 33°C and was designed to remain fluid during severe winter conditions.

The company later expanded its range of specialised products for the armed forces. Its 2022-23 annual report records the production of Low Sulphur Low Aromatic kerosene at its Gujarat and Guwahati refineries for Army use in high-altitude areas, where the fuel is used for heating and cooking.

The technical change from the earlier winter-grade diesel to XWG is significant. The earlier product was designed around temperatures of about minus 30°C, while the new fuel has been tested for much lower temperatures. The Army says the latest grade was developed within a year through cooperation between the military and oil companies.

For IndianOil, the Panipat dispatch also shows the role of its refinery and distribution network in supplying specialised products to institutional customers. The company operates refineries, pipelines and marketing facilities across the country, while its bulk fuel system allows institutional users to receive petroleum products through designated supply points.

K John Prasad, Country Head (Institutional Business), IndianOil, said:

“The Indian Army operates in some of the most demanding terrains and climatic conditions, where dependable fuel performance is critical to operational mobility. Extending XWG HSD supplies to the Eastern Command strengthens our ability to support the Army across another strategically important geography. In line with its core corporate value of Nation-First, IndianOil remains committed to developing indigenous, fit-for-purpose energy solutions for our Armed Forces and contributing to the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

The first XWG rake for the Eastern Command therefore marks a change in where the specialised fuel is available. The immediate purpose is practical: to give Army vehicles operating in very cold, high-altitude areas a fuel designed for those conditions.

The next test will be the supply chain itself. Moving fuel from a refinery or marketing complex to remote military locations requires storage, transport and timely delivery. For units operating in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, where terrain and weather can affect road movement, maintaining a steady supply can be as important as the fuel specification.

IndianOil’s earlier winter diesel work began with Ladakh in 2019. Seven years later, XWG diesel is being sent towards India’s eastern frontier. The latest dispatch extends that specialised fuel programme into another area where low temperatures and difficult terrain place particular demands on military logistics.