Domestic refiners shut down for maintenance as fuel demand wanes

Some firms also cut down their throughput

Domestic refiners — both state-owned and private — are initiating annual maintenance shutdowns for their refining capacities. The shutdown coincides with dwindling demand for petroleum products, after a strong revival in May and June.

Reliance Industries (RIL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) have all undertaken a maintenance shutdown in the past one month, in some of their facilities.

IOC undertook a shutdown at its Paradip refinery starting July 25; the refinery will remain shut till August 15. In July, RIL informed exchanges that it was planning to shut down one of its crude distillation units at