Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday dedicated two oil terminals of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) at Jharsuguda and Jatni in Odisha to the nation during a programme held in Malimunda of Jharsuguda district.
Pradhan also dedicated the 1,073-km long Paradip-Raipur-Ranchi petroleum products pipeline to the nation.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister hailed the pipeline project, while referring to its contribution to the success of the economic development plans of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Pradhan said these state-of-the-art facilities will further strengthen storage and distribution of petroleum products in Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. He proposed making natural gas available in Jharsuguda district through the pipeline, which will be connected to the Dhamra natural gas regasification plant.
The integration of the Paradip refinery with Jatni and Jharsuguda oil terminals through the Paradip-Raipur-Ranchi pipeline in Odisha will be an enabler for faster evacuation of petroleum products from the Paradip Refinery, he added.
Pradhan further said that the terminal at Jharsuguda is part of the government's continuing endeavour to build a world-class and automated oil terminal in the state.
The project has led to enormous employment opportunities in Odisha indirectly in terms of transport and housekeeping, security, maintenance, canteen and tank truck crew. "This pipeline will trigger industrial and economic growth in the region," the Union minister said.
The underground pipeline has been laid for the supply of petrol and diesel.
"In this line, the underground pipeline network is being laid for the supply of petroleum products to different states," Pradhan said, adding that this will be the safest, reliable and eco-friendly mode of transportation of petroleum products.
The government's priority is to ensure the availability of petroleum products to people in an easy way, he added.
An ultra-modern oil refinery was inaugurated in Paradip of Odisha two years back. "Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh are mineral rich states and the underground pipeline project will give a new direction to the development of this region," Pradhan said.
IOCL chairman Sanjiv Singh said the biggest and modern automated oil terminal of Odisha at Jharsuguda is another important milestone for uninterrupted and automated delivery of fuel to 10 districts of western Odisha which include Bargarh, Bolangir, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Nuapada.
Similarly, the renovation of Jatni Oil depot in Khurda is enabled for serving 13 districts including Khurda, Angul, Boudh, Nayagarh, Puri, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Phulbani, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Malkangiri.
Bargarh MP Prabhat Singh, Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das, Brajarajnagar MLA Radharani Panda and various officials were present during the programme.