Refiners likely to add only a fourth of targeted petrol pumps in India

In November 2018, the three oil marketing companies (OMCs) – Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) – had come out with an advertisement floating tenders for 78,493 petrol pumps across the country. 

This move, which came just before the polls, was pitched as a step to create over one million jobs. However, according to executives, the number of new pumps to be added would be significantly less. 

IOC, however, has indicated that the three companies would be allotting only around 19,000 or nearly 25 per cent of the total outlets on offer. 

“We are coming out