IOC to expand Panipat refinery this year

State-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC) today said it will expand Panipat refinery and commission a naphtha cracker complex adjacent to the unit this year.     

2009 will be the 'Year of Commissioning' for IOC, company Director (Refineries) B N Bankapur said in a statement here.     

Panipat refinery will be expanded by three million tons to 15 million tonne and naphtha cracker complex adjacent to the unit would be commissioned this year, he said. Besides, Once- Through Hydrocracker Project at Haldia would also be commissioned this year.     

Stating that IOC was committed to complying with the Auto Fuel Policy, he said petrol and diesel quality for Delhi and National Capital Region and 12 other major cities would be as per Euro-IV norms from April 1, 2010. Currently, fuel of Euro-III grade is being supplied in these cities.     

The rest of the country will switch to Euro-III quality from the present Euro-II, he said. "In order to achieve these quality standards, a clutch of petrol and diesel quality upgradation projects are set to be commissioned by the end of 2009 at various IOC refinery locations."     

During the calendar year 2008, IOC refineries achieved a capacity utilisation of 104 per cent besides achieving the best ever distillate yield. IOC refineries processed a record 48.9 million tonne of crude oil.     

"IOC was fully gearing up to implementing the revised guidelines for effluent and emission set by the statutory bodies," Bankapur said.