235 MMTPA refining capacity expected by end of XI plan

The Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dinsha Patel informed the Rajya Sabha in written replies to the questions today that the refining capacity of 148.97 Million Metric Tonne(MMT) during 2007-08 will increase upto 235.0 MMT at the end of XIth Five Year Plan period 2007-2012. The requirement will be met by importing 198.0 MMT of crude oil by 2011-12.

He also said that the projected dependence of crude oil import by the year 2011-12 will rise upto 86.3% from 78.3% at present (2006-07), considering the current level of domestic crude production. The projected dependence would be lower, if new finds materialize under the NELP.

In reply to another question, Shri Patel told the House that the demand of petroleum products in the country for the terminal year (2011-12) of XIth Five Year Plan is estimated to be 131.8 MMT. Stating that the refinery sector was delicensed in June, 1998, he added that a refinery, since then, can be set up anywhere in India by private or public sector enterprises depending on the promoters’ assessment of its viability.

Regarding the demand of natural gas, Shri Dinsha Patel informed that according to the report of Working Group on Petroleum and Natural Gas for the Eleventh Plan, the demand for natural gas in the country is projected to increase from 179.17 million standard cubic meters per day (MMSCMD) in 2007-08 to 279.43 MMSCMD in 2011-12. According to the report, the LNG import is projected to increase to 23.75 million tonnes per annum (MMTPA) by 2011-12. An investment of about Rs. 40,000 crore has been projected in the natural gas sector during the Eleventh Plan period (2007-12). The Government of India has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to augment supplies and to bridge the gap between supply and demand for the domestic market through :

- Intensification of domestic Exploration & Production activities under New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP),

- Exploitation of unconventional gas, like Coal Bed Methane(CBM),

- Implementation of National Gas Hydrate Programme (NGHP) for evaluation of hydrate resources and their possible commercial exploitation,

- Import of gas as LNG, and implementation of transnational gas pipelines.

Source : Press Information Bureau

Keywords