CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -An Indian Consortium consisting of IOCL, BPCL and HPCL and Saudi Aramco signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) here today to jointly develop and build an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex, Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd. (RRPCL) in the State of Maharashtra.

Detailed explanation-2: -The single largest concentration of refineries is along the Gulf Coast. Although there are refineries in 30 states, just three states dominate US refining: Texas (47 operating refineries), Louisiana (19), and California (18).

Detailed explanation-3: -The Rs 3 lakh crore project - known as the Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (RRPCL)- would have been the largest single-location refinery complex in the world with a capacity of 60 million tonnes and would create tremendous direct and indirect jobs. This would be the single biggest project in India.

Detailed explanation-4: -Assam has 4 refineries-Noonmati refinery,Namuligarh Refinery ,Bongaigaon Refinery, Digboi Refinery.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Indian Petroleum refining sector has come a long way since crude oil was discovered and the first refinery was set up at Digboi in 1901.