Guwahati, Sept 12: The NRL expansion project along with the under-construction 1,635-km crude oil pipeline is likely to be commissioned by March 31, 2027.
Addressing a post-AGM press conference here, NRL chairman Ranjit Rath said that currently, the mother units of the expansion project are undergoing the commissioning process.
“Out of 1,635 km of the crude oil pipeline being laid from Paradip to Numaligarh, over 1,590 km is already laid. Some segments are remaining. We are hopeful of commissioning the entire project and the pipeline by March 31, 2027,” Rath said.
While the project is getting commissioned, he said, OIL has also enhanced production, and the additional crude oil produced will find its utilisation for the purpose of commissioning of the refinery.
“NRL has been supported by domestic crude produced by OIL. Now we are at a threshold of 86,000 barrels per day. The outlook for OIL is around 4 million metric tonnes, and this additional crude will cater well with expansion of NRL. The more crude OIL produces, the less dependent NRL will be on imported crude,” he said.
Rath said NRL was carrying out studies to evaluate the possibilities of evacuation of the POL (petroleum, oil and lubricants) post commissioning of the expansion project.
“I am happy to share that we have already commissioned the upgradation of the Siliguri product pipeline to 5.5 million metric tonnes per annum. We are also looking at 3 new POL terminals,” he informed.
He also informed that there is a surge in demand in the Northeast, which was a “positive sign”.
“We feel that when we reach 9 million metric tonnes, we will be able to cater to the eastern part of the country. Once that is stabilised, we will look at the overseas market,” Rath said.
As on March 31 this year, the Rs 33,400-crore expansion project had achieved 87.1 per cent physical progress.
On the biorefinery inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, Rath said the facility is currently undergoing the stabilisation process.
“This is a project one of its kind in the world where bamboo is feedstock for 2G ethanol. After commissioning, what is required is the stabilisation process before commercial production can start. The technology is being implemented for the first time in the world. We are encountering a lot of learning curves and navigating the stabilisation process,” he said.
He also said that the situation in the Middle East did not have any impact on the operation of NRL, which achieved an operational efficiency of 99.1 per cent in the last fiscal.
“Operations went on unabated, which is reflected in physical and financial performance. Export of diesel parcels to Bangladesh through the Indo-Bangladesh friendship pipeline also continued unabated,” he said.
During the financial year 2025-26, NRL processed 3,113 TMT of crude oil, displaying a robust performance at 103 per cent of its rated capacity.
The standalone profit before tax in the financial year was Rs 4,077 crore, while profit after tax was Rs 3,057 crore. The net worth of the company stood at Rs 18,912 crore, reflecting a growth of 17.69 per cent.
