Sarbananda Sonowal Visits NRL To Take Stock of Expansion Project

A Correspondent

Numaligarh: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited Numaligarh Refinery Limited to take a stock of the expansion project of the refinery on Saturday. The expansion will boost the production of NRL from the current 3 million ton per annum (MTPA) to 9 MTPA at an investment of Rs 22,594 crore. The Numaligarh refinery expansion project is being pursued as part of the Government of India’s Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for Northeast, which calls for doubling the oil and gas production and expanding the clean fuel production capacity in the region by 2030. The project will also help meet the stringent fuel emission standards set under the Government of India’s Auto Fuel Vision and Policy 2025. The project is to be completed within a period of 48 months, after approval and receipt of statutory clearances. The total project cost will be financed by a mix of debt, equity and Viability Gap Funding.

A high-level meeting was held between Sonowal and Managing Director SK Barua, Director (Technical) Bhaskarjyoti Phukan, Director (Finance) Indraneel Mitra along with other senior officials of NRL to discuss various issues regarding the expansion project. During the meeting, it was highlighted that the ‘No Development Zone’ or NDZ was creating hurdles in the smooth execution of the expansion project. Sonowal said that the government would take all the necessary steps for fast completion of the expansion project. Ministers Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta and MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa were also present with the Chief Minister during his visit to NRL.

The final dividend cheque for the financial year 2018-19 amounting to Rs. 27.25 crore was also presented to Sonowal by NRL Managing Director S K Barua in presence of senior officials of the company. Numaligarh Refinery Limited has paid a total amount of Rs 154.4 crore as dividend to the Government of Assam for the financial year 2018-19. The Government of Assam has an equity holding of 12.35 per cent in the company.

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