Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) is currently evaluating a re-entry into the fuel retailing business through petrol pumps. The development follows the centre’s decision to make Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), shed its stake in the Assam Accord refinery (as NRL is popularly called). BPCL’s stake in NRL was recently picked up by fellow public sector undertakings Oil India (OIL) and Engineers India (EIL).
“Since the promoters have changed and OIL is not in the business of fuel retailing, there is an incentive for us to re-enter the fuel retailing business. This time, we may not set up many retailing outlets, but there may be some strategic outlets that can serve 50 to 60 mobile fuel dispensing units,” an official aware of the discussions told Business Standard.