NEW DELHI, Mar 2:
As many as 57 cases of pilferage of crude oil during transportation have been reported so far this financial year, up from 47 cases in the previous year, Government said today.
During the current fiscal till February, 57 incidents of were detected and the cases are being pursued by the concerned oil marketing companies, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said in Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
He said 47 similar cases of pilferage were reported during 2013-14 in different parts of the country.
Pradhan said all out efforts were being made to stop pilferage of crude oil during transportation and world’s best practices for security of pipelines were being implemented.
The Centre has initiated consultations with State Governments to set up joint mechanisms to check pilferage of crude oil.
“World’s best practices are being implemented for the safety of crude pipelines. We, in coordination with the State Governments, will take the matter to its logical conclusion,” he said.
The Minister said steps were also being taken by oil PSUs to prevent oil pilferage, including round-the-clock monitoring of pipeline flow and pressure through supervisory control and data acquisition system for pipelines, daily foot-patrolling by line patrolmen, electronic surveillance and patrolling by local police.
Replying to another question, Pradhan said the demand for bio-diesel was mainly for industrial use as well as for oil marketing companies (OMCs) and for bulk consumers like railways for being blended in diesel.
“Government has decided on January 16 this year to allow the direct sale of bio-diesel by manufacturers/ suppliers of bio-diesel, their authorised dealers and joint ventures of OMCs as authorised by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to all consumers. The OMCs are already authorised to sell bio-diesel,” he said.
The Minister said bulk consumers like Indian Railways may now purchase directly from bio-diesel manufacturers.
The decision would benefit manufacturers, suppliers as well as consumers and encourage production and increased use of bio-diesel, he said.
Pradhan also said exploration and production activities relating to oil and gas were largely dependent on the prospects of the sedimentary basins in the country and all efforts were being made to optimise these activities in India.
“Government reviews its policies pertaining to oil and gas exploration from time to time. This review entails learnings from the experiences of other countries, including developed countries,” he said. (PTI)
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