New Delhi, May 26: India's crude oil production dipped 1.9 per cent to 2.572 million tonnes in April when compared with production of 2.622 million tonnes in the same month last year. Crude production from prime Mumbai High offshore fields fell by less than a percentage point to 1.310 million tonnes as opposed to 1.317 million tonnes produced in April 2002, according to the latest figures released by ministry of petroleum and natural gas here.
India is 70 per cent import dependent to meet its annual 110 million tonnes crude oil requirement. Refinery production, however, increased by a healthy 6.6 per cent to 9.178 million tonnes during the month under review over 8.608 million tonnes petroleum products produced a year ago.
While production from the 17 public sector refineries rose 8.7 per cent to 6.548 million tonnes, Reliance Industries Ltd's Jamnagar refinery production was up 1.8 per cent to 2.63 million tonnes in April. Jamnagar refinery capacity utilisation was higher at 118.8 per cent against 116.4 per cent capacity utilisation in April 2002.
Public sector refinery capacity utilisation was 88.88 per cent as compared to 83.6 per cent last fiscal. Bureau Report