Reliance Jamnagar refinery ranked best

Reliance Industry Ltd's (RIL) refinery at Jamnagar has been ranked the best by Shell Benchmarking magazine for the third consecutive year in 'energy and loss' performance from among 50 refineries worldwide.

The Jamnagar refinery has consistently lowered the `energy and loss index' (CEL) during the past three years, decreasing it from 95.6 CEL Index in 2000 to 88.7 CEL Index this year.

The lowest CEL Index shows a reduction in energy loss and places the company as the world leader in energy performance.

Reliance's performance was also at number one in operating cost, manpower cost, maintenance cost and plant utilisation in Shell Benchmarking.

Earlier this year, Reliance was ranked number one in energy performance among large complex group refineries in the Asia-Pacific region by Solomon Benchmarking of the Solomon Associates of the US.

Reliance's energy intensity index (EII) was the best among 64 large and complex refineries in the Asia-Pacific region. Its position was at number one in personal cost index, maintenance index, cash operating expense, net cash margin and return on investment among 71 refineries in the region.

These energy saving efforts at the Jamnagar refinery have not only reduced energy indices, but has also resulted in Rs 76 crore worth of fuel savings, a company statement said on Monday.

Other highlights include the national award for excellence in energy management 2003 to Reliance's Jamnagar complex by the Confederation of Indian Industry for its project of fuel gas to turbines in the power plant.

Also, the refinery won the Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association award for excellence in energy conservation and management. The British Safety Council, UK, too has conferred the Jamnagar refinery with the `five star' rating for practices followed in health and safety.

The statement said that the refinery was also warded the ISO 14001 certification by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) for its environment management system and the Environment Excellence Gold Award by the Greentech Foundation for environment care.

The integrated petrochemical and refinery complex at Jamnagar was commissioner in 2000. The 27 million tonne refinery accounts for 24 per cent of India's refining capacity and is the world's largest grassroot refinery and the fifth largest at any single location.

The Reliance group, with total revenues of Rs 80,000 crore, has activities in exploration and production of oil and gas, refining and marketing, petrochemicals, textiles, financial services and insurance, power, telecom and infocom.