IndianOil’s Paradip refinery starts crude processing

Odisha Channel Bureau New Delhi, April 27: IndianOil has started the process of commissioning its 15 MMTPA state-of-the-art Paradip Refinery.Crude processing has been started in Atmospheric & Vacuum unit (AVU) on Sunday and products like LPG, Naphtha, Kerosene, Gas Oil, RCO etc.are coming out of the unit.Some of these products will require further processing in secondary units, which are also gearing up for commissioning.The whole complex is likely to take about 6-8 months time for becoming fully operational in an integrated manner.This was disclosed by Sanjiv Singh, Director (Refineries) of the largest Refiner of the country – IndianOil.Built at cost of Rs.34,555 crore, the refinery is designed to process broad basket of crude including cheaper high sulphur heavy crudes and has an overall Nelson complexity factor of 12.2.The refinery is capable to produce Euro-IV / Euro-V quality transportation fuel.To meet burgeoning energy demands of the future IndianOil is further augmenting its refining capacity by setting up a 15 MMTPA grassroots refinery at Paradip in Odisha.Indian oil’s latest refinery at Paradip with an overall Nelson complexity factor of 12.2 makes it capable of processing broad basket of crude including cheaper high sulphur heavy crudes.It is configured to produce LPG, Propylene, Motor Spirit, ATF and HSD.The refinery will produce Euro-IV/Euro-V quality transportation fuels.The distillate yield from the refinery is expected to be best in class with 81.1% with no black oil production.Energy Intensity Index of Paradip Refinery is expected to be 78.6, which is in 1st quartile.The products will be dispatched by all modes i.e.Pipeline (20-25%), Rail (20-25%), Road (15-20%) & Coastal (40-50%).Coastal movement of products including exports will be through South Oil Jetty of PDRP.Many first-time technological features, viz., Flue Gas desulphurisation facilities, vapour recovery system from jetty loading, etc., have been the hallmark of Paradip Refinery.These features will ensure environment friendly operation of the refinery with minimum impact to the nature.The INDMAX Unit (4.17 MMTPA), under construction at Paradip Refinery is based on the indigenous technology developed by IOC (R&D).Once successful at Paradip, IOCL would establish itself in the international market for commercial use of this technology.