BPCL, HPCL, IOCL to jointly set up oil storage facilities in Odisha

Facilities will be at Sambalpur and Meramundali in Dehankanal district at an investment of Rs 270 crore each

Oil marketing companies- Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd have planned to set up two common user facilities for storage of oil in Odisha.

The oil companies have intended to set up oil storage facilities at Sambalpur and Meramundali in Dehankanal district at an investment of Rs 270 crore each.

BPCL will take the lead in the project and the projects will be developed on a Capex sharing basis.

"The common user facility will cater to the receipt and storage of petroleum products like diesel, kerosene, petrol and blending will also be done here", official sources said.

The product inputs are likely to be received through IOCL's Paradip-Ranchi cross country pipeline railway wagons and evacuation will be done through tank lorries.

The facility at Sambalpur will cater to the needs of 10 districts probably in the western part of the state and the Meramundali unit will cater to four districts.

Officials said, the state level facilitation cell (SLFC) considering the proposal of the state before it is put before the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) for approval.

It may be noted that the Odisha government has set up an SLFC, a special entity to fast track approvals for investment projects. The new entity has been mandated to clear investment proposals in 15-30 days.

The SLFC has categorised companies in two broad categories- green and non-green. The green category largely comprises agri-based industries, food-processing, cottage industries, textiles, light engineering, chemicals, building materials, and consumer goods.

The SLFC monitors the general and special conditions of approved project proposals and facilitate timely implementation of projects. The SLFC consists of members from Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd, (OPTCL), State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), directorate of factories and boilers, water resources department on a full-time basis.

Representatives of national level Industry associations are also a part of the SLFC board to mentor and guide investors and promote industries in the state.

Under the new arrangement, SLFC provides clearances to green category projects within 15 days. All other industrial projects placed under the non-green category would receive approvals within 30 days.