Assam will remain grateful to govt for maintaining PSU nature of Numaligarh Refinery

GUWAHATI: With Union government asserting that Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) will continue remain a public sector utility, Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Assam will remain grateful to Union Government for its kind consideration.

In a tweet Sarma said, “NRL is part of our pride. I thank PM Sri @narendramodiFM @nsitharamanand Petro Min @dpradhanbjpfor ensuring that PSU tag of Numaligarh Refinery Limited remains. We are forever grateful to Union Government for its kind consideration of aspirations of #Assam.”

The Centre has announced on Wednesday that NRL will not be privatized even as it approved strategic disinvestment of Bharat Petroleum Corporation limited (BPCL).


Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal had sent a letter to Centre in this regard. The state government stated BPCL is the largest shareholder of NRL and if BPCL is privatized, NRL will go into the hands of private player.

BPCL holds 61.65 per cent stake in the NRL while Oil India Limited (OIL) has 26 per cent stake. The Government of Assam has 12.35 per cent stake in the refinery.

NRL was set up as per Assam accord of 1985. All Assam Students Union which is one of the signatory of Accord staged protest earlier and stated that it will not allow dilution of character of NRL.