IOC to commission three major projects in 2009

New Delhi: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has said that during 2009 the company plans to commission major refinery projects.

Disclosing this, Mr B.N. Bankapur, Director (Refineries), IOC, said, the projects include expansion of the Panipat Refinery, a naphtha cracker complex adjacent to the Panipat Refinery, and hydrocracker project at Haldia.

Mr Bankapur said that the Panipat Refinery will be expanded by three million tonnes to 15 million tonnes and naphtha cracker complex adjacent to the unit would be commissioned this year. The once-through hydrocracker project at Haldia would also be commissioned this year, he said.

He reiterated IOC’s commitment to complying with the Auto Fuel Policy. Accordingly, petrol and diesel quality for Delhi/NCR and 12 other cities will be as per BS-IV norms from April 1, 2010, as compared with the present level of BS- III quality. The rest of the country will switch over to BS – III quality from the present BS – II.

A clutch of quality upgradation projects are to be commissioned by the end of 2009. During the calendar year 2008, IOC refineries have achieved a capacity utilisation of 104 per cent.