MRPL capacity will be 15 m by 2007

The DFR for expansion, which would involve putting up additional units like FCC, Coker and Indalin (naphtha to LPG plant) would be available by December 2004.

‘‘The refinery capacity would be raised to 12 million tonnes through minor revamps by December 2004,’’ they said adding hiking capacity to 12 million tonnes in first stage would require Rs 200-300 crore investment.

MRPL will produce 9.9537 million tonnes of petroleum products in 2004-05 by processing 10.7 million tonnes of a crude cocktail of Bombay High and Iran mix.

It plans to export 1.9537 million tonnes of naphtha, petrol, jet fuel, diesel and fuel oil, leaving the rest for domestic market, they said.

MRPL processed 10.05 million tonnes of crude, 104 percent of the rated capacity of 9.69 million tonnes. This is the highest-ever crude run in the refinery. MRPL registered a gross turnover of Rs 12,488 crore, up 46 per cent over last year.

During 2003-04, MRPL exported 4.262 million tonnes of finished products, with a realisation of Rs 4,470 crore, more than doubling the export earnings over the previous year.

‘‘With crude processing at over 100 per cent capacity, improved refinery operations, (march 2004 throughput was 129 per cent of rated capacity), Financial re-engineering and several other measures, MRPL would be reporting significant net profit in the very first year of take over by ONGC,’’ sources said.

ONGC had bought out Aditya Birla Group in MRPL in March last year. Subsequently, it infused an additional capital of Rs 600 crore as part of the debt restructuring package aimed at cutting the interest cost of the loss-making refinery.

MRPL, which has secured a licence to set up petrol pumps, is likely to post its first ever profit for the just ended fiscal, they added.