Chandikhol in Odisha to have Additional 6.5 MMT Strategic Petroleum Reserves

ONI Bureau:  The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved establishment of additional 6.5 Million Metric Tonne (MMT) Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) facilities at two locations at Chandikhol in Odisha and Padur in Karnataka.

The SPR facilities at Chandikhol and Padur will be underground rockcaverns and will have capacities of 4 MMT and 2.5 MMT respectively. Government had announced setting up of two additional SPRs during the budget announcement for 2017-18.

Cabinet’s approval for establishing additional 6.5 MMT Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities will provide an additional supply of about 12 days and is expected to augment India’s energy security.

The construction phase of the SPRs at Chandikhol and Padur is likely to generate significant direct & indirect employment opportunities in the states of Odisha and Karnataka.