On 12th October 2016, MRPL received the first parcel of crude oil for delivery into the Mangalore cavern of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd ( ISPRL). The first parcel of 2,60,000 MT of Iran Mix crude was received in Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), MT DINO and started pumping into the Mangalore cavern for testing the facilities.
Shri Nalin Kumar Kateel, Hon’ble MP of Dakshina Kannada switched on the pump at MRPL SPM Booster Pump Station and the first parcel of crude delivery into the Mangalore cavern of ISPRL got underway. Shri B.A. Mohiuddin Bava, MLA Mangalore North, Shri Ganesh Karnik, MLC, Shri Rajan Pillai, MD & CEO, ISPRL were present along with Shri H Kumar MD, MRPL, Shri M Venkatesh, Director Refinery and Shri A K Sahoo, Director Finance on the occasion.
To ensure energy security, Govt of India had decided to set up 5.33 Million Metric Tons (MMT) of strategic crude oil storages at three locations namely, Vishakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur (Near Udupi). These strategic storages would serve as a cushion during any external supply disruptions. The Strategic crude oil storage facilities are being managed by Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL), a Special Purpose Vehicle, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MOPNG). Vishakhapatnam facility with 1.33 MMT capacity has been already commissioned in June 2015. Mangalore facility with capacity of 1.5 MMT has started receiving crude today for testing the facility. Padur facility with 2.5 MMT capacity is expected to be ready by the end of this year.
A Press briefing was held at MRPL SPM Booster Pump Station, where Hon’ble MP, DK District, MD & CEO, ISPRL and MD, MRPL briefed the media.
