Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, March 9, inaugurated two key Oil India pipeline projects in a ceremony held in Jorhat, Assam.

The first project involved the upgrade of the pumping capacity along the 756 km Barauni-Bongaigaon-Guwahati sector of the Naharkatiya-Barauni Crude Oil Pipeline. 

The enhancement, up to 3 MMTPA, aims to bolster the supply of imported crude oil to the Bongaigaon and Guwahati refineries.

Additionally, the company replaced a 38 km pipeline from Duliajan to Digboi, integrating a new cathodic protection system and an optical fibre communication network. This initiative is expected to augment the capacity of Asia’s oldest refinery, the Digboi refinery, from 0.65 MMTPA to 1 MMTPA.

Both projects, completed within the total budgeted project cost of Rs 623 crore, prioritize the safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly transportation of hydrocarbon molecules.

Aligned with the Prime Minister's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), the majority of machinery and equipment used in these projects were domestically manufactured, contributing to the advancement of the Indian manufacturing sector.

Moreover, these projects have generated approximately 50,000 man-days of employment for site construction works in the eastern states of Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar.

The event was graced by dignitaries, including the Chief Minister of Assam, Union Minister of Port, Shipping, Waterways, and Ayush, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Labour & Employment, and the Member of Parliament for Guwahati. 

Senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Chairman & Managing Director of OIL, and representatives from district administration, OIL, and other Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) also attended the event.