Guwahati, Nov. 28: Members of Parliament from the Northeast have urged Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Ram Naik to merge Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (BRPL) with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and not relegate BRPL to being an Indian Oil subsidiary.
A representation, signed by 15 MPs and sent to the Union minister, said the BRPL which was made a subsidiary company of IOCL on March 2001 for its survival and growth, suffered its highest-ever loss of Rs 198.61 crore in 2001-02. “It is the subsidiary status of BRPL which has forced it on the verge of closure,” the representation said.
Employees of Indian Oil, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGCL), Oil India Limited, BRPL and Numaligarh refinery Limited (NRL), under the banner of North Eastern Region Oil Workers’ Co-ordination Committee, have been campaigning for the BRPL-Indian Oil merger. The BRPL employees, grouped under Action Committee for BRPL Survival, have also demanded a merger.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi had also supported the demand and a memorandum was submitted on August 2000 to the Union petroleum and natural gas ministry. The All-Assam Students’ Union and the All-Bodo Students’ Union had also supported the decision.
The representation said BRPL, which is the smallest subsidiary company of Indian Oil, is fighting for survival due to non-availability of crude from the region and lack of improved technology to churn out quality products by 2005 and beyond.
The other reasons cited for the pathetic condition of BRPL is lack of short and long-term perspective plan and capacity to absorb market fluctuation of demand and price.
The minister had earlier assured the co-ordination committee team in the presence of S.K. Bwismuthiary, Lok Sabha MP, that in case of any problem arising out of the subsidiary status of BRPL, it would be completely merged with Indian Oil.
The MPs said the merger would have no financial implication for the Centre and will benefit not only BRPL but also strengthen Indian Oil in the petrochemical and fibre sectors.
They said the merger is more essential for the economic development of the region as it is the only major industry in Lower Assam. The signatories are S.K. Bwismuthiary, Apok Jamir, U.G. Brahma, Paban Singh Ghatowar, Rajen Gohain, Golam Osmani and others.
