Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL), a subsidiary of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and a “mini Ratna”, is in negotiations for exporting a higher quantity of its products to Mauritius. P. P. Upadhya, Managing Director, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals (MRPL), told The Hindu that the public sector refinery was discussing with State Trading Corporation (STC) of Mauritius for enhancing export of its petroleum products manufactured in its refinery in Mangalore.
The quantity, he said, “is not worked out”. It is not possible to say precisely how much more the exports will be worth as prices of the products are varying every month.
MRPL had signed the current agreement with STC of Mauritius in 2010 to export petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to the island for three years. The quantity of all three exported products put together is 1.1 million tonnes per year. Now, the agreement is about to end. Mr. Upadhya said, “The current agreement is valid till 31st of this month. Talks are on (for continuing the agreement for the next three months)”. He said, “We want it. It should come from them”. The company is also working towards setting up a petroleum storage facility in Mauritius. Mr. Upadhya said, “They wanted us to build it. We gave the proposal. It is pending still with them”.
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The island nation is overwhelmingly dependent on MRPL for petrol (“99.9 per cent”, according to Mr. Upadhya).