Introduction: Barauni Refinery
Barauni Refinery is an oil refinery located in the Begusarai city of Bihar state, India, and operated by the Indian Oil Corporation. It was commissioned in 1964 and built-in collaboration with the Soviet Union. Since then, the refinery has undergone several expansions, and its current capacity stands at 6.1 million tonnes per year.
The refinery has won several awards for its operational excellence and eco-friendly technologies. Barauni Refinery produces primarily diesel and caters to fuel demands in several states of India and Nepal. In this article, we will discuss the various aspects of Barauni Refinery, including its history, operations, product profile, and plans for expansion.
Brief History of Barauni Refinery
The idea of building an oil refinery in Bihar was first proposed by Shri Krishna Sinha, the first chief minister of Bihar, in the late 1950s. The Indian government, in collaboration with the Soviet Union, commissioned the construction of the Barauni Refinery in 1961.
They built the refinery in July 1964 at a cost of Rs. 49.4 crores, starting with an initial capacity of 1 million tonnes per year. They subsequently increased the refinery’s capacity to 3 million tonnes per year by 1969 and further expanded it to its current capacity of 6.1 million tonnes per year. Indian Oil Corporation plans to further expand the capacity of the refinery to 9 million tonnes per year at a cost of $1.94 billion.
Operations of Barauni Refinery
Barauni Refinery is a leading refinery in India that uses state-of-the-art eco-friendly technologies to produce green fuels complying with international standards. The refinery won the TPM Excellence award in Category A in 2009 for its operational excellence. It primarily produces diesel, with over 54% of its product mix as HSD. Other products include kerosene, petrol, LPG, Naptha, Raw Petroleum Coke (RPC), sulfur, and bitumen.
Adoption of Eco-Friendly Technologies
Barauni Refinery has been a pioneer in adopting state-of-the-art eco-friendly technologies to produce environment-friendly green fuels complying with international standards. It has installed several units such as the FCC gasoline de-sulphurization unit (FCC GDS), isomerization unit, naphtha hydro-treater unit, and hydrogen generation unit to produce Bharat Stage-III (BS-III) motor spirit. It also uses Indmax technology for the production of high-quality diesel, gasoline, and propylene. This technology enables the refinery to produce fuels with low sulfur content. The production of high-octane gasoline utilizes Isomerization technology, which minimizes emissions and enhances fuel efficiency.
Transition to Green Fuel Production
Barauni Refinery fully switched over to BS-III diesel in 2010, which has 97% less sulfur content than BS-II diesel. Bihar and Jharkhand were declared BS-III compliant since September 2010. The refinery added new units like NHDT and ISOM for Motor Spirit Quality up-gradation in 2010. The refinery has also achieved the distinction of being the first refinery in India to produce Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) diesel. It also achieved Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) compliant motor spirit and high-speed diesel. It implemented a project to revamp its existing units and install new units. These include a diesel hydro-treating unit (DHDT), FCC gasoline de-sulphurization unit (FCCGDS), and catalytic cracking reforming unit (CCRU) for this purpose. The team completed Phase-I of the project in August 2017 to comply with BS-IV quality standards. They commissioned Phase II in March 2020 to meet the requirements of BS-VI quality.
Reduction of Carbon Footprint
Barauni Refinery has reduced its carbon footprint by implementing several energy-efficient measures. These include the installation of LED lighting, variable frequency drives, and solar power systems.
Product Profile
Barauni Refinery primarily produces diesel, which accounts for over 54% of its product mix. The refinery also produces other petroleum products, such as kerosene, petrol, LPG, Naphtha, Raw Petroleum Coke (RPC), sulfur, and bitumen. The refinery caters to the fuel demands of Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. In addition, Nepal Oil Corporation sources its fuel, including LPG, from Barauni Refinery.
Barauni Refinery is one of the few refineries in India that produces environment-friendly green fuels that comply with international standards. In 2010, the Barmer Refinery transitioned entirely to BS-III diesel and dispatched the initial batch of BS-III petrol via the Barauni Kanpur Pipeline (BKPL) on August 13, 2010. The states of Bihar and Jharkhand achieved BS-III compliance in September 2010. Additionally, the refinery incorporated new units such as NHDT and ISOM to upgrade the quality of motor spirit in 2010.
Expansion plans
Indian Oil Corporation has planned to expand Barauni Refinery’s capacity from 6 million tonnes per year to 9 million tonnes per year at a cost of $1.94 billion. This expansion plan is part of the corporation’s overall strategy to increase its refining capacity to meet the growing demand for petroleum products in the country.
The expansion of Barauni Refinery will involve the installation of a new crude distillation unit (CDU), a vacuum distillation unit (VDU), and a delayed coker unit (DCU). The new CDU will have a capacity of 9 million tonnes per year, which will replace the existing 6 million tonnes per year CDU. The new VDU will have a capacity of 5.5 million tonnes per year, and the new DCU will have a capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per year.
The expansion of the refinery will also involve the installation of new units for the production of gasoline, diesel, and petrochemicals. The new units will use the latest technologies to produce environment-friendly green fuels that comply with international standards.
The expansion of Barauni Refinery will generate a substantial number of direct and indirect jobs, thereby contributing to the economic growth of Bihar and neighboring states.
Conclusion
Barauni Refinery has been a symbol of India’s progress and development in the oil and gas sector for over 50 yrs. It has contributed significantly to the socio-economic growth of Bihar and the neighboring states. It provided employment opportunities, supported local industries, and generated revenue for the government. The refinery has also been a role model for operational excellence, and technological innovation. It is also a role model for environmental sustainability in the refining industry.
Barauni Refinery is an essential facility that plays a crucial role in meeting the fuel demands of the states of Bihar, WB, UP, Jharkhand, and MP. The operational excellence of the refinery has earned it numerous awards for its eco-friendly production processes. The refinery has also made significant strides in producing green fuels that comply with international standards.
Indian Oil Corporation’s plan to expand Barauni Refinery’s capacity from 6 million tonnes per year to 9 MTPA. This is a testament to the refinery’s importance in meeting India’s growing demand for petroleum products. The expansion of the refinery will involve the installation of state-of-the-art technology. It will produce environment-friendly green fuels, contributing to India’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
The expansion of Barauni Refinery is anticipated to generate substantial employment opportunities. It will also make a valuable contribution to the economic development of Bihar and the neighboring states. Barauni Refinery, with its rich history and promising future, is ready to continue as a crucial facility in fulfilling India’s fuel requirements in the coming years.
By implementing its expansion and modernization plans, Barauni Refinery aims to attain unprecedented levels of excellence and efficiency in the forthcoming years. Barauni Refinery is a testament to India’s vision and commitment to becoming a global leader in the oil and gas sector.
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