Indian oil refiners defer shutdowns as workers flee amid Covid resurgence

Bharat Petroleum and Indian Oil have deferred planned shutdowns due a shortage of contract workers.

Indian oil refiners are being forced to postpone maintenance at some plants as technicians and workers are either fleeing to their hometowns or falling ill amid a rapid resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bharat Petroleum Corp. and Indian Oil Corp. have deferred planned shutdowns due a shortage of contract workers, said company officials with knowledge of the matter. The refiners will need to keep operating these units, reassess their feedstock plans and possibly reduce overall run rates, they said.

The country’s health-care system is being overwhelmed as infections spike and oxygen remains in short supply. Major Indian motorways were deserted