OIL Expects Paradip-Numaligarh Pipeline by Nov

The 1,635-1,640-km Paradip-Numaligarh crude oil pipeline is likely to be commissioned by October-November this year, while the expanded Numaligarh Refinery, whose capacity is being increased from 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 9 MTPA, is expected to be commissioned in early 2027, said Ranjit Rath, Chairman and Managing Director, Oil India Ltd.

The pre-commissioning activity is already underway. We took crude into the system on December 31, 2025, and we foresee that the entire refinery will be commissioned early 2027. The 1,635-1,640-km Paradip-Numaligarh pipeline is likely to be commissioned by October-November this year," Rath said on the sidelines of a CII event on compressed biogas (CBG).

The refinery expansion will increase Numaligarh Refinery's capacity from 3 MTPA to 9 MTPA, said Rath, who is also the Chairman, CII National Hydrocarbon Committee. He said the pipeline will transport imported crude oil from Indian Oil Corporation Ltd's (IOCL) offshore oil terminal at Paradip to the expanded refinery.

"About 5.5 million to 6 million metric tonnes of crude oil will be imported through IOCL's offshore oil terminal at Paradip and pumped through this pipeline," he said.

On Oil India's upstream operations, Rath said the company is continuing to expand exploration and production activities to enhance domestic hydrocarbon output.

"We have three offshore drilling activities going on, including in Andaman and Nicobar, the Kerala-Konkan basin and the KG Basin. This year, we plan to undertake about 100 exploratory, appraisal and development wells," he said.