Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 15: It is normal for Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) to shut down one of its units for annual maintenance or on account of water shortage. For the first time this year, on account of steep fall in demand for petroleum products, the second unit of the company has been temporarily suspended.

It is learnt that there has been a 60 per cent slump in demand for petrol and diesel on account of lockdown. The company began to work at 75 per cent capacity after some days since lockdown. Now, it is working to 40 per cent of its capacity. Sources stated that there is a possibility of the other unit also being shut down for annual maintenance.

At the same time, MRPL has been getting crude oil regularly from Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Even pumping of diesel in the pipeline via Hassan was suspended because of a shortage of demand. As the indigenous demand is less, MRPL continues to export diesel to foreign countries, said Rudolph Noronha general manager, MRPL corporate communications.