A Parliamentary Standing committee strongly felt that the huge demurrage cost of about Rs 665 crore incurred by state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) between 2009 and 2012 was avoidable and not due to uncontrollable factors.
Owing to their failure to have requisite infrastructure, the three OMCs – IOC, HPC and BPCL – paid Rs 665 crore in this period to domestic ports, the committee said in a report submitted to the Parliament.
The committee also deplores the slackness on the part of officials concerned of MNCs or ministry of petroleum and natural gas over the years for not pursuing the matter with due seriousness.
In its report, the parliamentary panel is also critical of the Port Trust Authority for “not being responsive” to the infrastructure requirements for import of crude oil.
IndiaÂ’s largest oil marketing company, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) ran up a loss of Rs 328.58 crore, Rs 120.55 crore and Rs 98.02 crore in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively.
The committee said IOC is facing multiple constraints at the Chennai port, the major being the lack of berthing facility for very large crude carriers.
Owing to capacity issues at Jawahar Dweep Port in Mumbai, BPCL and HPCL are facing an additional freight of 35 percent for each unloading tanker.
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