Digboi Refinery Explained

Digboi Oil Refinery
Image Alt:Photo of Digboi Centenary Museum at Digboi
Location Map:India Assam#India
Coordinates:27.3908°N 95.6186°W
Country:India
State:Assam
City:Digboi
Owner:Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Capacity:0.65 MMTPA

Digboi Oil Refinery was set up at Digboi in 1901 by Assam Oil Company Ltd. The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) took over the refinery and marketing management of Assam Oil Company Ltd. with effect from 1981 and created a separate division. This division has both refinery and marketing operations. The refinery at Digboi had an installed capacity 0.5 million tonnes per year. The refining capacity of the refinery was increased to 0.65 million tonnes per year by modernization of refinery in July, 1996. A new delayed Coking Unit of 170,000 tonnes per year capacity was commissioned in 1999. A new Solvent Dewaxing Unit for maximizing production of microcrystalline wax was installed and commissioned in 2003. The refinery has also installed Hydrotreater-UOP in 2002 to improve the quality of diesel. The MSQ Upgradation unit has been commissioned. A new terminal was expected to be completed by 2016. It is one of the best oil fields in Assam. Certified

The small town of Digboi in the remote north eastern corner of the country is the birth place of the Oil Industry in India. Digboi Refinery, commissioned on 1901. It is India's oldest operating refinery and one of the oldest operating refineries in the world and termed as the "Gangotri of the Indian Hydrocarbon sector." Earlier owned and operated by the Assam Oil Company Limited/Burmah Oil Company, it came into the fold of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited and became the Assam Oil Division of Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

History

Digboi refinery is known as birthplace of the oil Industry in India. It was commissioned on 11 December 1901. It has the distinction of being Asia's first refinery and one of oldest still in operation.[1] Oil was accidentally discovered in 1867 while laying a railway line in Digboi area. It was just found seeping out in dense jungles in Tinsukia district. Digging for oil was started in 1889 and the refinery set up in 1901 at Digboi.[2]

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Notes and References

  1. 5 Things That Make Assam Unique. Outlook India.
  2. News: Here is India's oil story. 3 May 2018. The Financial Express. 9 Dec 2018.