IOC's Paradip-Haldia crude pipeline is expected to be commissioned by December 25 this year. As per the earlier schedule the project was to be completed last April. However, slow work by Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company on setting up of a single point mooring system, adverse weather conditions during monsoon, delay in getting forest clearance and technical problems in the 48" diameter pipes made available to the contractor were cited as reasons for the delay in completing the project.
The project involves laying of a pipeline between Paradip in Orissa and Haldia in West Bengal at a cost of Rs 1,154 crore. The plan envisages the development of a tank farm at Paradip that would be capable of handling high and low sulphur crude to be stored separately. Around 15 tanks would be set up for this purpose. Each would hold 60,000 kilolitres. The pipeline, which will have a capacity of 10 million tpa, will originate from the tank farm and run along the Santra creek. It will then run along a 300-km independent land route joining the existing Haldia-Barauni crude oil pipeline.

Haldia PCPIR
IOC has put forth certain demands before the West Bengal government to make the proposed Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) in Haldia a reality. The demands include the setting up of a deep sea port capable of accommodating large-size tankers, road and rail interconnectivity between Kolkata and Haldia, and social infrastructure. Creation of PCPIR in Haldia will be subject to the development of necessary infrastructure facilities that meet international standards. It is planned to set up a new grassroots refinery of 15 mmtpa capacity which will be integrated with downstream petrochemical facilities in the PCPIR.