The Central Government PSU Indian Oil Corporation limited (IOC) has sought approval from the Gujarat Government to acquire land for the expansion of crude refining process at its Gujarat Refinery in Koyali village situated on the outskirts of Vadodara.
Confirming the development Executive Director of IOC Gujarat Refinery SK Dhar Gupta said that the expansion plans are for raising its crude refining process to 18 MMT per year from the existing 13.7 MMT per year.
“We require 130 acres land for the expansion project. Already 55 acres of land has been acquired and for the remaining land negotiation is going on with the local farmers. IOC would acquire the land only through Gujarat government and hence it is seeking the approval from the state government,” said Dhar Gupta while talking to The Pioneer.
According to him the refinery wants to implement petrol and diesel quality improvement program as per the central government’s auto fuel vision - 2025. “For the purpose we would like to have remaining land parcel of 75 acres by next year, so that we can start supplying BS-IV by 2020, he added.
He further said that the refinery authorities had sought clearance for purchasing the land needed for the expansion project vital for meeting the norms of government’s Auto Fuel Vision Policy.
In order to produce fuel compliant with Euro-IV emission norms at the refinery IOC would invest Rs. 1800 crore to upgrade its Koyali refinery, said an official at the company’s Mumbai office requesting anonymity.
Currently the Gujarat refinery is spread across 1950 acre land including its two terminal operations and five primary Atmospheric Distillations Units.