New Delhi, July 25: India’s crude oil production shot up 7% in April-June 2002 to touch 8.155 million tonnes (MT) as compared to 7.618 million tonnes during the same period last year. Oil production rose by nearly 10% during June 2002 at 2.730 MT against 2.484 MT a year ago, an official release said today.

Refinery production went up 6.2% at 27.668 MT during the three-month period ending June 2002 as against 26.042 MT last year.

However, monthly refinery production grew 2.4% at 9.359 MT in June 2002 against 9.136 MT last year. Capacity utilisation in the refineries rose to 98.5% in the quarter as compared to 92.8% during the same period last year. Monthly capacity utilisation at refineries also increased from 98.8% in June 2001 to 101.1% in June 2002.

Natural gas production rose 2.7% at 7,443 million cubic metres (mcm) during April-June 2002 against 7,245 mcm in the same period last year. Gas production was higher 5.9% at 2,564 mcm in June 2002 as against 2,421 mcm in the same month a year ago.

Crude oil production from Mumbai High Offshore rose 14.6% at 4.228 million tonnes (mt) in April-June 2002 compared to 3.688 MT in the same period last year. The monthly production for the country’s premium oil field also grew 20% at 1.436 MT in June 2002 against 1.197 MT a year ago.

Crude oil production by ONGC recorded a 9.7% rise at 6.368 MT during April-June 2002 against 5.807 MT the same period last year. ONGC posted 13.2% rise in production at 2.138 MT in June 2002 compared to 1.889 MT last year.

Bureau Report