IOC's southern oil pipeline dedicated to nation

Chennai, June 26 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today dedicated to the nation the Chennai-Tiruchi-Madurai petroleum product pipeline, the first-of-its-kind and the longest such facility set up by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in South India.

The commissioning of the pipeline took IOC, the country's largest commercial enterprise, a step ahead in realising its vision of emerging as an integrated transnational energy major besides making a giant leap in meeting the energy requirements of the state.

The pipeline would move petrol, diesel and kerosene from IOC's Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL) refinery at suburban Manali to other parts of the state.

The 683 km-long state-of-the-art pipeline, traversing 11 districts, would ensure uninterrupted and reliable supply of diesel, kerosene and petrol in the safest, environment-friendly and economical mode to major consumption centres in the state.

The pipeline also serves as an alternative to transportation of petroleum products by road, thereby reducing evaporation and handling loss.

The setting up of the pipeline comes close on the heels of the recent expansion and increase in the capacity of the CPCL's Manali refinery to 9.5 million tonne. This would be further increased to 11.2 million tonne by 2008.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murali Deora presided over the function in which Union Ministers P Chidambaram, T R Baalu, Dayanidhi Maran and G K Vaasan, IOC Chairman Sarthak Behurai took part.

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