Oil arm seeks to market kerosene

Essar Oil has submitted a request to the petroleum ministry for a licence to market kerosene to industrial and commercial customers.

Kerosene marketing licences have so far been granted to three companies "" Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals, Reliance Industries and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC).

In response to Essar's application for the licence, the ministry has sought production details as the company is yet to start kerosene production at its Vadinar refinery under commissioning at Jamnagar, Gujarat.

The facility is expected to be operational by July this year. The initial phase is pegged to have a capacity of 10.5 million tonne.

Essar already has the rights to market aviation turbine fuel and also the rights to transport and import motor spirit and high-speed diesel.

It now wants to develop the kerosene marketing network across the country to cater to the requirements of its industrial and commercial customers.

If permitted, Essar Oil will have to ensure that demand under the public distribution system is fully met before marketing to non-PDSconsumers.