<article><p class="lead">Indian state-controlled refiner IOC is planning to increase its crude throughout by 25pc, or about 350,000 b/d, in the next four years because of growing demand for oil products.</p><p>IOC intends to increase its crude refining capacity to 87.55mn t or 1.76mn b/d from 70.05mn t or 1.41mn b/d through a series of four refinery expansions by the 2024-25 fiscal year ending 31 March, it said in its 2020-21 annual report.</p><p>Capacities of the 300,000 b/d Panipat and the 275,000 b/d Koyali refineries will be boosted to 500,000 b/d and to 360,000 b/d respectively. The 120,000 b/d Barauni and 20,000 b/d Guwahati refineries will be expanded to 180,000 b/d and 24,000 b/d respectively.</p><p>Indian state-controlled oil companies are planning to spend 2 trillion rupees ($27bn) for capacity expansions until 2025, India's junior oil minister Rameswar Teli said yesterday in the upper house of the Indian parliament. Refining capacity is expected to reach 298mn t or 6mn b/d from 249mn t or 5mn b/d by 2025, he added.</p><p class="bylines">By Sathya Narayanan</p></article>
