IOC executing Rs. 12,000-cr pipeline projects.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation�s largest fuel retailer, is busy executing a dozen-odd projects at an investment of around Rs. 12,000 crore to expand its network of crude oil and products pipeline by 54 per cent to 17,000 km by 2019. This is part of a larger expansion plan involving Rs. 1.75 lakh crore that is in the works. "When commissioned, the projects would increase our transportation network from the existing 11,200 km by an additional 6,000 km by the end of FY19. The projects are primarily meant at transportation of large volumes, while the last-mile connectivity to depots would be ensured through roads," Anish Aggarwal, director (pipelines), IOC, told Business Standard. The 12 projects currently being commissioned would ramp up the oil marketer�s combined fuel carrying capacity by 25 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) over the five-year period, up from the current 80 mtpa. This includes the 4.5-mtpa Barauni-Hyderabad pipeline, 5-mtpa Paradip-Raichur-Ranchi pipeline and the 2-mtpa pipeline from Durgapur to Muzaffarpur via Barauni and Patna. The three pipelines would together cover half or 3,300 km of the network length under execution. "In addition, another 8,000-km pipeline projects are in the planning stage. Plans for around Rs. 3,000 crore worth of projects are likely to be approved shortly," said Aggarwal. The company is developing the new pipeline infrastructure to cater to the rising demand for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the rural areas and building connectivity for the two new LPG import terminals being set up by IOC at Kochi in Kerala and Paradip in Odisha.