As Army gets advanced fuel storage facility in Kargil, logistics challenge in high altitude comes in focus

The Indian Army has commissioned the first-of-its-kind underground fuel, oil and lubricant (FOL) storage facilities in the Kargil Sector, marking a major advancement towards strengthening logistics infrastructure in high-altitude areas.

Titled Project Sena Sarthi, it consists of newly constructed storage tanks that will double the fuel-holding capacity, ensuring sustained operational preparedness for troops deployed in one of the most challenging terrains and climatic conditions in the country. It has been executed in collaboration with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.

Storage and logistics for FOL products at high-altitude areas like Ladakh and the north-east, where vehicles and fuel-powered equipment like generators are deployed at heights up to 20,000 feet, poses significant challenges for the Indian Army because of extreme temperatures, inclement weather and hostile terrain.

Sub-zero temperatures not only affect the physical and chemical properties and combustibility of FOL products, but also require special storage and handling facilities. Bulk of the Army’s fuel requirements are transported by road. Since areas like Kargil and Ladakh remain cut-off from the rest of the country during winters, adequate stocking has to be done for this period.

The problems have been mitigated to some extent by the use of diesel and lubricants specially developed by DRDO for high altitude, use of additives and blends in FOL and building insulated or heated underground storage facilities, but these add to the costs and maintenance efforts.

Transportation and storage of FOL in forward areas is done in 200-liter barrels made of mild steel. According to the Compendium of Problem Definition Statements released by the Army earlier this year, the existing barrels, though robust, are prone to rusting, heavy and cumbersome to handle. In addition, they take up a large storage space even when empty.

“The greatest challenge is storage of main grade fuels in high altitude areas and mountainous terrain where existing barrels cannot be transported through heli-lift. There is a need to develop a customised alternate solution for Indian Army in form of new generation fuel barrels to enable ease of transportation, handling and portability of fuel in pack storage, especially in remote locations and high altitude areas,” the document states.

Pointing out that countries like the US and UK are using fuel drums specially designed for ease of portability and heli-lifting as under slung load, the Army has projected a requirement to the industry for robust, lightweight, portable and foldable or collapsible fuel drums which occupy less space when empty, withstand drops from higher levels and withstand extreme temperature from minus 45 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius.