The Hindu Business Line : Indian Oil plans to expand to African markets

AFTER entering Mauritius, Indian Oil is now planning to expand its operations to neighbouring African countries. The company has also doubled its investment plan in Mauritius from $18 million to $35 million.

On the cards are setting up of a modern fuel testing laboratory and increasing the capacity of its proposed storage terminal at Mer Rougue. The terminal will serve as a supply base for the company in Mauritius.

Currently, all companies operating in Mauritius get their fuel tested from Johannesburg.

Indian Oil's planned fuel testing laboratory will, therefore, serve not merely its retailing business interests but be an independent profit centre as well.

The storage facilities will be augmented primarily to tap available opportunities in the shipping fuel business.

Mauritius is fast emerging as one of the busiest ports in the region. Indian Oil has already strengthened bunkering facilities with new lines of quays in the port.

In the auto fuel retailing business, the company has plans to set up 25 outlets in the country. Of these, five have already been put up and the rest will follow in another one-and-a-half years.

However, the company has reversed its earlier plan to create infrastructure for its Indane LPG storage, bottling and distribution in the country. The $4-million project was scheduled to be commissioned in April 2005.

The company has also joined a consortium of ExxonMobil, Shell, Total, and Caltex in Mauritius to build an aviation fuel terminal at Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolam International Airport.

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