Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, May 6: Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) has been forced by circumstances to go for shutdown due to water scarcity in the district. It has begun to shut down its phase 3 units from Thursday evening as there is no improvement in the water situation. It is now feared that that if MRPL keeps its units shut for some more time, fuel shortage is likely arise in the state.

The MRPL had informed the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) last week that because of restrictions imposed by the district administration of Dakshina Kannada on the pumping of water from river Nethravati for industrial use, it had taken a decision to go for partial shutdown of certain units.

The DK administration had suspended water supply to MRPL and other industries in the region for seven days from April 26 after the water level at Thumbay vented dam had reduced drastically. On May 3, the district administration extended its order to suspend water supply to industries for another 10 days.

Though MRPL had earlier shut down fluidised catalytic cracking (FCC) and polypropylene units, it did not affect production of petrol, diesel or LPG as polypropylene is used in the manufacture of plastic and various types of moulds. But the present shutdown of additional units is definitely going to affect the fuel production.

MRPL draws about six million gallons of water per day from River Nethravati. Presently MRPL uses domestic treated water and the water recycled at the plant for operations.

According to an estimate the MRPL produces 5 lac tonnes of diesel, 1 lac tonne of petrol and 75,000 tonnes of LPG every month. Major parts of the state are dependent on MRPL for fuel and LPG requirements.

MRPL had shut down its operations when similar situation had arisen in April 2012.