An oil refinery is an industrial plant where crude oil (petroleum) is processed and refined into useful products like petrol, diesel, kerosene, and LPG. Mapping these refineries is a key part of the Class 10 Geography syllabus (Minerals and Energy Resources).
India is a massive net importer of crude oil, but thanks to its massive refining capacity (especially Jamnagar), India is actually a net exporter of refined petroleum products (like petrol and diesel) to the rest of the world!
The majority of refineries in India are owned by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), BPCL, and HPCL. Important ones include:
Joint Ventures:
Refineries are generally located in two types of places:
The **Digboi Refinery** in Assam is the oldest operating oil refinery in India and one of the oldest in the world, established in 1901.
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