Indian Oil to expand, upgrade Digboi refinery

Indian Oil Co. plans to expand and modernize its Digboi refinery, which first came on stream in 1901. Once work is complete, capacity will reach 1 million tonnes/year from the current 650,000 tonnes/year.

March 28, 2001

By an OGJ Online Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Mar. 28�Indian Oil Co. plans to expand and modernize its Digboi refinery, which first came on stream in 1901.

The project will cost 17 billion rupees ($360 million). Once work is complete, capacity will reach 1 million tonnes/year from the current 650,000 tonnes/year.

The refinery will get a new hydrotreater plant that will allow it to make low sulfur diesel (less than 0.05% sulfur).

The bitumen plant will also produce a superior grade product.

Digboi refinery is known for its wax. The plan is to double wax production to 60,000 tonnes/year.