The Hindu Business Line : Mauritius invites IOC to take up LPG distribution

New Delhi, Nov. 7 Mauritius has invited state-owned downstream oil major IndianOil Corporation Ltd (IOC) to develop and engage itself in the liquefied petroleum gas marketing and distribution in the island-country.

This emerged at a meeting here today between the Petroleum Minister, Mr Murli Deora, and Mr Rajeshwar Jeetah, Minister of Industry, Small & Medium Enterprises, Commerce & Cooperatives of Mauritius, on the occasion of the first India African Hydrocarbon Conference organised by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, the Government of India, and FICCI with the support of UNCTAD.

Mr Jeetah said that Mauritius is planning to increase its LPG consumption from about 60,000 tonnes to about 100,000 tonnes. Speaking to newspersons, Mr B.M. Bansal, IOC, Director Business Development, said, “We have proposed to help Mauritius in increasing storage capacity, building ATF pipeline to the airport, and other infrastructure.”

Indian Oil’s subsidiary, IndianOil Mauritius Ltd (IOML), has already established a storage terminal of 24,000 tonne at Mer Rouge. The company is involved in marketing of petrol, diesel, ATF fuel oil & lubricants, retail, bunker and industrial customers with nine retail outlets already operational and five more to be commissioned by December.

IOML plans to lay a pipeline of 50-60 km length from its terminal to SSR International Airport to cater to the growing aviation business. The company sought early approvals for laying the pipeline, which Mr Jeetah assured to examine on his return.

IOML in consortium with Shell, Total, Caltex-Chevron, has commissioned a terminal of 19,800 kilo litre at SSR International Airport this year with an investment of $16 million.

African plans

IOC also had discussions with Mozambique and offered them support in building compressed natural gas (CNG) network, gas-based petrochemical plant – if gas is available in excess, as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG) business opportunities.

Mr Bansal said that IOC has offered them a new concept of transportation of liquid LNG for which it can put up mini-LNG plant.

The company was also looking at opportunities of refinery modernisation and upgradation.

Besides, a petrochemical opportunity, the company was seeking exploration and production opportunities in Ethiopia, Sudan and Nigeria.

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