Paradip (Odisha): Shutdown maintenance activity has commenced at Paradip Refinery after safe shutdown of running units.
Launching the 3 tier Safety Surveillance System, Executive Director & Refinery Head TDVS Gopalakrishna emphasised on enhanced safety and health measures to ensure an incident free shutdown during the present Covid pandemic situation.
Since last planned maintenance shutdown in March’2018, all the units are operating continuously. After running for more than two years it has become absolutely imperative to go for maintenance work of critical equipment of the refinery. Although, initially shutdown was planned during the month of April, but due to onset of Covid-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown the decision was deferred.
The essentiality of uninterrupted supply of petro products including LPG during the lockdown period also contributed while building up consensus to defer the shutdown. With phasing out of Covid restriction, the economic activity is gradually picking up along with consequent demand for petro products. 15 MMTPA, Paradip Refinery plays a strategic important role in supply chain management of petro products not only inside the nation but also for export to the neighbouring countries.
So as to bolster the “neighbour first policy”, Paradip Refinery has recently shipped 15 TMT of 95 RON MS to Bangaladesh. Safe, reliable & continuous operation of this refinery is the need of the hour to give much needed impetus for continuation of economic activities in this part of the nation.
Going for the shutdown, Paradip Refinery has accorded utmost precaution for safety during the prevailing Covid-19 situation. As a part of precautionary measures all the 1200 expert workforce, who have come from different parts of India, were quarantined on arrival. IOCL has arranged for Swab testing of all the persons and only Covid negative persons are being allowed to take part in the maintenance activity, whereas asymptomatic positive persons are being treated at IOCL, Covid Care Centre, set up at isolated area.
Paradip Refinery is taking all precautions for completing the shutdown activities safely and Gopalakrishna appeals to all the stakeholders and the community for their whole hearted support and cooperation.
