CHENNAI: State-run Indian Oil Corp today said restricted availability of fuel in four southern states was “temporary” due to partial shutdown of Mangalore Refinery Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) and supply would resume soon.
“The diesel supply problem experienced currently is temporary and is owing to partial shutdown of MRPL from April 12 and subsequently the full shutdown from April 16 onwards,” Indian Oil said in a statement here.
To improve supplies, Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) is moving a tanker to be berthed in Chennai on Sunday, the company said, adding it is also planning to import diesel from Singapore which is expected to be berthed in Chennai shortly.
“With the above arrangements and also resumption of MRPL (from May 1), supplies of all petroleum products, including diesel, would be normal soon,” the statement added.
The products from MRPL are mainly consumed in Karnataka by all oil companies and HPCL is moving products from MRPL to part of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh whereas Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum Corp predominantly draw supplies from their subsidiary companies at Chennai and Kochi.
Noting that petroleum products including supply of diesel was severely “hit” in Karnataka and to some extent in other states, IOCL said, “MRPL is a standalone refinery and all oil companies have arrangements with them for supply of petroleum of products to the four southern states.”
The main pipeline from MRPL is with HPCL. The closure of MRPL was due to certain restrictions placed on them by local administration on withdrawal of water from local sources.
“The issue has since been sorted out, MRPL has been allowed to draw water. The refinery has started operations and product is expected to flow from May 1,” the statement said.
Earlier, MRPL had said that district authorities had enforced reduction of water supply to MRPL to one-third level and finally on April 11, water intake was completely stopped from Nethravathi river.
MRPL was receiving around 5.5mgd water from Nethravathi river in Karnataka.
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