Jump to content

Kandla–Bhatinda Oil Pipeline

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kandla–Bhatinda Oil Pipeline
Location
CountryIndia
FromKandla
Passes throughPanipat
ToBhatinda
General information
TypeOil products
OperatorIndian Oil Corporation
Commissioned1996
Technical information
Length1,443 km (897 mi)
Maximum discharge6 million metric tons per annum

The Kandla-Bhatinda Oil Pipeline (KBPL) is a petroleum pipeline system in India that transports crude oil and refined petroleum products across Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab. Commissioned in 1996, it has a total length of approximately 1,443 km. Its initial annual throughput capacity was 6 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), later upgraded to 8.8 MMTPA.[1]

Route and Configuration

[edit]

The pipeline follows a strategic northwest route:

  • Kandla (Gujarat) – origin at the Deendayal Port foreshore terminal, fed by oil jetties and Single-Point Mooring (SPM) facilities.[2]
  • Panipat (Haryana) – a major refinery and junction point; connected via a 1,113 km, 22-inch crude oil leg from Kandla.[3]
  • Bhatinda (Punjab) – terminus via a 218 km, 14-inch product pipeline.[3]

Additionally, a 112 km spur connects Kot (near Jodhpur) to Salawas, enhancing regional supply.[4]

Historical Development

[edit]

The pipeline was commissioned in phases between December 1995 and June 1996.[5]

  • Phase I enhancement (1999): was implemented by adding pump stations at Sidhpur and Sanganer. This increased capacity to approximately 7.5 MMTPA at an additional cost of ₹42.62 crore.[4]

The Kandla-Panipat segment was initially built to transport petroleum products but was later converted to crude oil transport. The Panipat-Bhatinda section continues to carry refined products.[2]

Ownership and Administration

[edit]

The pipeline is owned and operated by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) through its Pipelines Division, which manages over 13,000 km of pipeline infrastructure across India[2]

Technical Features

[edit]
  • Length: ~1,443 km
 * Kandla–Panipat: 1,113 km (22")  
 * Panipat–Bhatinda: 218 km (14")  
 * Kot–Salawas Spur: 112 km (10.75")[4]
  • The pipeline includes pump stations such as Sanganer, a SCADA-based control system, cathodic protection, and storage terminals.[3]

Strategic Importance

[edit]

KBPL facilitates transportation of crude oil from Gujarat's coastal terminals to the inland Panipat refinery and the distribution of refined products to northern India. It reduces dependence on road and rail transport, thereby lowering logistical costs and environmental risks.[1][2]

Performance and Audit Insights

[edit]

Between 1999-2004, throughput ranged from 5.0 to 6.9 MMT, which was below the designed capacity.[4]

The 2004-05 audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reported the following:

  • The Phase II expansion was not justified due to underutilization.
  • ₹176.96 crore in bank guarantees was encashed compared to ₹10.45 crore actually required.
  • An avoidable interest cost of ₹70.29 crore was incurred.[6]

Network Integration

[edit]

The pipeline was later integrated with the Mundra-Panipat crude pipeline project. A 74 km spur connects Mundra port to Kandla, sharing the route to Panipat. This enhances import flexibility via Gujarat’s SPM and supports 499 KT crude storage at Mundra.[1][2]

Challenges and Criticism

[edit]

The project has been criticized for underutilization after expansion, excess spending on augmentation, and delays in contract execution. These issues have been cited in public audits as examples for improving infrastructure governance. [4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Petroleum Product Pipelines". IndianOil Corporation. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "IndianOil Pipelines Division" (PDF). IndianOil Corporation. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Northern Region Pipelines (NRPL)" (PDF). IndianOil Corporation. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Review of Pipelines Division – Northern Region" (PDF). Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Parliamentary Q&A: Kandla–Bhatinda Pipeline Project" (PDF). Parliament Digital Library. 30 July 1991. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  6. ^ "CAG pulls up Indian Oil". The Telegraph India. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kandla–Bhatinda_Oil_Pipeline&oldid=1302090470"