Mumbai refinery of BPCL gets Rs 1,419crore push

BPCL-RefinaryThe second-biggest state refiner plans to invest Rs 1,419 crore in replacing an old crude processing unit at its 12-million-tons-a-year Mumbai refinery by May 2015.

The new crude and vacuum distillation unit of 6 million tons per annum capacity would enhance safety and environment with improved mechanical integrity, as existing old units have a number of critical equipment and civil structures having lower residual life with a potential safety and environment hazard. Full commissioning of the project is expected by mid-2015.

BPCL has also plans for installation of a new crude distillation unit (CDU) of 10.5 million tons at Kochi refinery to replace the existing old 4.5-million-tons CDU-1 and save on energy. This would raise Kochi refinery capacity to 15.5 million tons from current 9.5 million tons. Mechanical completion of the project is planned by March 2016 and commissioning by May 2016.

The Numaligarh refinery in Assam and Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh upgradation is also on the cards to almost double the combined capacity at a cost of about Rs 13,500 crore.