NRL's grand plans for next year
Oil India subsidiary Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) has a lot planned by December 2025, including an expansion to 9m t/y and a new bio-refinery and polypropylene facility.
On August 29 (2024), Oil India chairman Ranjit Rath announced that the bio-refinery would begin producing shortly. "As we speak, the pre-commissioning of the bio-ethanol plant, which is a bamboo-based feedstock-driven initiative and the first of its kind on this part of the country, is underway," said Rath after the AGM in Guwahati.
"Our target is that by September 30 (2024), we will have completed all the processes to begin production." Rath spoke of the ethanol plant's anticipated impact on reducing carbon emissions.
He also announced that NRL received environmental clearance in August (2024) for a polypropylene facility within the refinery complex. "The process of engaging the project consultant is underway," said Rath.
"It will take about three years." Regarding the proposed refinery expansion from 3m to 9m t/y, Rath set a completion target of December 2025.
By then, he also expects the 1635-km Paradip to Numaligarh crude oil pipeline to be ready to feed additional oil to the refinery. Rath conceded that NRL would refine imported crude oil but assured the audience that Oil India would increase oil production to 4m t/y.
Sitting beside Rath at the press briefing was NRL managing director BJ Phukan. No mention was made of the suspicious death of a wild elephant in the NRL township.
Under Indian conservation law, elephants are a protected species. On August 21 (2024), the Gauhati High Court rejected bail applications for two NRL officers arrested after they allegedly buried the elephant in secret on July 18 (2024).