Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated two vital pipeline projects in Jorhat, Assam, for Oil India Limited (OIL), a prestigious Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise. These projects, completed at a cost of Rs. 623 crore, are designed to ensure the safe, reliable, and eco-friendly transportation of hydrocarbon molecules and are anticipated to play a major role in the development and economy of the state.
OIL upgraded the pumping capacity of 756 km Barauni-Bongaigaon-Guwahati sector of its 1,157 km long Naharkatiya-Barauni Crude Oil Pipeline up to 3 MMTPA, this will facilitate the supply of imported crude oil to the Bongaigaon and Guwahati refineries. In another venture, the company replaced its 38 km pipeline from Duliajan to Digboi, equipped with new cathodic protection system and optical fibre communication-based network, which would facilitate capacity enhancement of Asia’s oldest refinery – the Digboi refinery from 0.65 MMTPA to 1MMTPA.
In line with the Central government’s policy to encourage self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat, the majority of machinery and equipment used for the projects were made in India, boosting the domestic manufacturing sector. Additionally, these projects created employment opportunities, totalling nearly 50,000 man-days, for site construction work in Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar.
The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister of Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister for Port, Shipping, Waterways, and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Labour & Employment Shri Rameswar Teli, Chairman & Managing Director of OIL Dr Ranjit Rath along with officials from the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, and senior district administration and PSU officials.
