IOCL reschedules refinery project commissioning

Odisha Channel Bureau Paradip, June 19: Indian Oil Corporation has rescheduled its Rs 34,555 crore worth refinery project and has set winter deadline for the full-fledged commissioning of the project which is located close in close vicinity off Paradip sea coast.“The project work has reached its fag end stage with over 98% construction coming to an end.Ongoing construction work, which is highly skilled in nature, is fast progressing on a war-footing.Engineers, technical consultants from oil refineries across the country are on the job round-the-clock.Various vital components of the refinery have already been subjected to successful trial run.In all likelihood, the project would be fully commissioned next winter”, said General Manager, Paradip refinery, W.R.Barbara. Construction of Atmospheric Vacuum Unit (AVU), the central component of the refinery, has already been completed.It has been successfully put under trial test.Crude processing was started in the AVU last month.Other ancillary project components are well on their way to completion stage.The commissioning of the project is progressing in a phased manner.Though the shortage of skilled manpower had posed hindrances for acceleration of project in the past, work is fast progressing at present and the refinery is certainly going to be commissioned full-fledged by October, informed company officials.The oil refinery complex would become a major petro-chemical hub.Apart from the oil refinery, the proposed projects like for Rs 3,150 crore worth polypropylene unit and plastic park would act as catalyst in the socio economic development of the state, the official observed.The 15 million tonnes per annum capacity refinery project is valued at estimated cost of Rs 34,555 crore of which nearly Rs 32,000 crore has already been used up for the project construction.Initially the refinery worth Rs 29,000 crore was scheduled for commissioning by 2012-13 year.Delay in the commissioning has led to cost escalation of the project.Shortage of skilled manpower, labour unrest, recurring lawlessness and troublesome activities by trade unions and organized and unorganized groups had led to the delay in the commissioning of the project.The 15 million tonnes per annum refinery project is designed to operate on a broad basket of crude oils, including cheaper, high sulphur and heavy grades and is configured to perform with high energy efficiency.The project was announced in March 2006, with an initial installed refining capacity of 9 million tonnes per annum.Later its capacity was enhanced to 15 MTPA.The company engineers are working round the clock so that the project is commissioned on rescheduled deadline, added the company officials.