Posted On:
22 SEP 2026 6:43PM by PIB Bhubaneswar
A media delegation from Odisha, led by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), visited the historic Digboi Refinery of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) today, gaining an insight into the refinery’s remarkable legacy as well as its ongoing efforts towards environmental sustainability and a cleaner energy future.
Welcoming the delegation, Shri Rahul Prashant, Executive Director and Refinery Head, along with senior officials, highlighted Digboi’s remarkable journey from the discovery of oil seepages in the nineteenth century to its emergence as one of India’s most historic industrial townships. The journalists were also familiarised with the fascinating history surrounding the discovery of oil in the region, including the popular account of ‘Roopkali’, an elephant whose oil-stained footprints were believed to have helped indicate the presence of underground oil reserves.
The first commercial oil well at Digboi was drilled in 1889, followed by the commissioning of the refinery in 1901. With this long and uninterrupted history of operations, Digboi is recognised as the world’s oldest continuously operating commercial refinery.
A Century of Energy Leadership, A New Era of Green Transformation
The delegation was apprised of IOCL’s integrated refining footprint and its progressive transition into a future-ready energy enterprise. Operating across ten refinery groups, IndianOil commands a refining capacity of 80.75 MMTPA, representing nearly 31 percent of India’s total refining capacity. At Digboi, the current 0.65 MMTPA capacity is being revamped toward 1 MMTPA, ensuring that this historic installation continues to anchor the regional energy supply.
Parallel to its core operations, IndianOil is accelerating clean energy adoption with a 258 MW solar and wind portfolio and the deployment of 15 hydrogen fuel-cell buses in the Delhi-NCR. The delegation also learned about the commercial-scale green hydrogen plant underway at Panipat Refinery-powered entirely by renewable energy-representing a major stride toward decarbonisation.
Digboi’s Water Wisdom: Turning Rainfall into Resource Security
A major focal point of the visit was Digboi’s closed-loop water management. The refinery fulfills approximately 80 to 85 percent of its industrial water demand exclusively through rainwater harvesting, anchored by an expansive 28,000-cubic-metre reservoir. Validating these initiatives, the facility has secured an audited 72,96,012 Rainwater Offset Units under an ESG Water Credit framework.
Stringent environmental safeguards govern round-the-clock operations, featuring a 400 m³/hour Effluent Treatment Plant equipped with a Volatile Organic Compound reduction unit, real-time CPCB/PCBA telemetry, and five ambient air-quality monitoring stations. Furthermore, around 54 percent of the refinery complex is preserved under lush green cover.
Where India’s Oil Story Began and Where Its Green Future Takes Shape
The visit concluded at the Digboi Centenary Oil Museum and Discovery Well No. 1, where the journalists explored the region’s rich petroleum heritage through nineteenth-century cable-tool drilling rigs, vintage equipment and rare operational archives documenting the early years of oil exploration in India.
The visiting media delegation lauded the refinery for preserving this living heritage while establishing contemporary benchmarks in circularity, responsible resource management, and clean energy transition. Digboi stands as an enduring bridge between the dawn of India's petroleum era and a sustainable energy future.
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Swadhin Shakti Prasad/Manoj Kumar Jali