India: MRPL to Launch BS-VI Diesel by March 2019

Petroleum Minister Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan has informed that Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL) will come out with BS6 standard diesel by March 2019 and BS6 petrol by December that year. (BS is Bharat Stage emission standard).

Addressing presspersons in Mangaluru recently, Mr. Pradhan said that the Petroleum Ministry is committed to providing BS6 standard of petroleum products by April 1, 2020. However, MRPL will be coming out with BS6 standard diesel by March 2019, one year ahead of its scheduled date of implementation. MRPL will be producing BS6 standard petrol by December 2019, he said.

Expansion

On MRPL’s expansion plans, he said the refinery’s capacity will be increased from the existing 15-mtpa (million tonnes per annum) to 25-mtpa. Stating that the merger process of MRPL and OMPL (ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd.) is in the final stage, he said MRPL will go for a mega expansion plan after that.

Works related to land acquisition, technology selection, financial assessment are being carried out on war-footing. MRPL will start the expansion plan during the calendar year itself, he said, adding that the investment scope of this expansion will be around Rs. 70,000-crore.