Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) is hoping to commission the SPM (single point mooring) system in New Mangalore Port (NMP) limits by May 2012. The SPM , in the NMP area, is a facility in the sea that will help receive crude oil in very large crude carrier (VLCC) tankers.

Mr U. K. Basu, Managing Director, MRPL, told presspersons here that all the execution orders for SPM are in place. The work for the project will be started in November.

He said that November to April is the lean season to work under the sea. “All work orders are in place to start the work during that lean season, and to complete the work and commission as per the board approved date of May 2012,” Mr Basu said.

When told that there was some opposition from fishermen in the area on setting up SPM in the sea, he said the company has made a presentation to the representatives of fishermen on this.

“This is not a new phenomenon in the India. A number of SPMs are already working all over the country. Actually, this is a sub-sea pipeline we are laying. It will not cause any problem with respect to fishing along the sea,” he said.

Board approval

The board of MRPL had approved the SPM project in June 2010 and the ONGC board, in July 2010. Engineers India Ltd is the OBE/LSTK (open book estimate / lump-sum turnkey) contractor for the project. As of August 15, around 32 per cent the project was complete.

In its annual report for 2010-11, the company had informed the shareholders that NMPT (New Mangalore Port Trust) has allotted the land required for booster pump stations and other facilities of the projects. With SPM, MRPL can source cheaper crude from the Far-East with added freight advantage, the report said.

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