Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Mar 9: Mangalore Refinery Petroleum Limited (MRPL) received its inaugural cargo of ONGC’s KG 98/2 crude oil, extracted from the Krishna-Godavari basin in the Bay of Bengal, on Saturday, March 9.
The arrival of crude oil is expected to boost the country's production by 7%, facilitating the manufacturing of various petroleum products such as LPG, petrol, and diesel. This discovery marks a significant milestone, with an initial output of 12,000 barrels. If production reaches its peak capacity of 45,000 barrels, it could lead to a 7% increase in petroleum product output.
The ship Swarna Sindhu, transporting crude oil, was ceremonially flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 2.
"MRPL has the necessary infrastructure and expertise to process crude oil into petroleum products. This marks a significant milestone for us, as we are among the first to undertake such processing operations, ensuring the removal of all impurities from the crude oil," stated MRPL Managing Director Mundhkur Shyam Prasad Kamath.
"CVO MRPL, Ganesh Bhat, remarked, “Today is an auspicious day for all of us as we receive the first cargo from the Krishna-Godavari basin in the Bay of Bengal. This development will have a significant impact, potentially increasing production by up to 7%. Relying on other countries for crude oil exposes us to numerous challenges, including geopolitical tensions, often leaving us at the receiving end due to the dominance of Western powers in the crude oil sector.”
Director refinery Sanjay Varma, director finance Vivek Togankar, GGM projects ONGC Sunil Kumar and district commandant coast guard PK Mishra and others were present.
GGM HR Krishna Hegde welcomed the gathering, and CGM HR Sandesh Cutinho and GM corporate communication Rudolph compered the event.