IOC to begin commissioning Paradip refinery by December

NEW DELHI: Indian Oil Corporation, the nation's largest oil firm, today said it will begin commissioning its Rs 30,000 crore Paradip refinery in Odisha by the end of the year.

"We are looking at commissioning of various units in stages beginning December," IOC Director (Refineries) Sanjiv Singh told reporters here.

Commissioning of the full 15 million tons unit will take a few months.

Paradip refinery has been delayed by two years. It was originally to come up in 2012 but got delayed due to several factors including cyclone and local law and order issues.

The revised timelines for commissioning was set for August/September 2014 but that is unlikely to be achieved.

"Refinery commissioning is a long and tedious process and it will be done in stages," he said adding that crude oil has already been imported at the refinery and stored in the tanks. It will be used for commissioning.