Auto fuel retailers to go on indefinite strike from Sep 20


PTI
06:09 PM,Sep 01,2010

Chandigarh, Sep 1 (PTI) The Federation of All-India Petroleum Traders (FAIPT) today said it will go on an indefinite strike September 20 to press for demands such as raising the commission on fuel sales and a uniform rate for petroleum products across the country. "All the petroleum dealers representing FAIPT will go on strike for indefinite period from September 20 protesting against the indifferent attitude of the Union government towards our demands," FAIPT National Joint Secretary Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal told reporters here today. Grewal lamented that dealers were forced to take this extreme step as the Centre has not been paying any heed to their genuine demands for a long time. The dealers are seeking a 5 per cent commission on the retail price of petrol and diesel, citing erosion of margins in selling fuel. "We are currently getting Rs 1 per litre of petrol and 65 paise a litre on diesel, based on volume. But we want our commission at a rate of 5 per cent... on retail prices," he said. "Traders have been bleeding profusely due to inadequate margins and a rise in operational expenditure. Evaporation or leakage of fuel oil takes away 1 or 2 per cent margin being provided by oil companies. Rest of margin is consumed with the rise in wages, power and other charges," he said. FAIPT also demanded there should be a single rate of petroleum products across India, as a variation in duties and taxes from state-to-state leads to variation in prices, causing smuggling of fuel from one state to another. Petroleum dealers further lamented that commissioning of new retail outlets by competing PSU oil companies were also hitting the business of existing fuel stations. He said that a meeting of FAIPT's managing committee has been called on September 4 at New Delhi, where the course of action for the proposed strike will be discussed.


http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/auto-fuel-retailers-to-go-on-indefinite-strike-from-sep-20/282358.html

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MUMBAI: Wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy said on Friday it had won a 30 megawatt order from Altrade Group.




Suzlon will set up, operate and maintain the project to be installed at wind farms in the western state of Rajasthan.



The project will be commissioned by next January. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed
 
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/Suzlon-wins-30-MW-order-from-Altrade/articleshow/6484135.cms.

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Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting, the FMCG arm of Wipro Ltd has launched LED rechargeable lanterns. The lanterns are available in three configurations- Solar, Rechargeable and Dry cell.




Mr. Vineet Agrawal, President, Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting said, “LED’s are the future of lighting. Given the current power scenario in India these LED rechargeable lanterns would be a great boon for consumers and would be an ideal replacement for kerosene lamps and petromax lanterns. LED’s help consumers reap the dual benefits of energy efficiency as well as being environmentally friendly”


Mr. Sanjay Gupta Vice-President-Sales, Wipro Lighting said, “We would initially launch these lanterns in south India, U.P and Punjab. Our products use the latest LED technology and have been designed to suit the Indian conditions. The low power consumption of LED ensures that our lanterns give a backup of up to 25 hours once fully charged rural areas where there is huge power cuts would be the thrust market for us. ”



The lanterns can be used as a torch as well as for general area lighting. With large parts of the country facing power cuts, LED’s are the ideal light source as they consume very little power. They are also environmentally friendly as they do not contain any mercury and last up to 30000 hours.



Attractively priced between Rs 600-Rs 2200, a wide range of lanterns is available to suit the requirements of different types of consumers

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/wipro-consumer-carelighting-launches-solar-led-rechargeable-lantern/406598/

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HPCL plans refinery in Maharashtra


Special Correspondent …in the pages of the HINDU newspaper…

It will come up between Ratnagiri and Raigad districts of Maharashtra…

NEW DELHI: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) is understood to have finalized plans to set up a 9-million tonnes refinery in Maharashtra with an investment of around Rs.15,000 crore.Official sources said the Maharasthra Government had offered land places and the company was in the process of giving a final shape to the proposal. The company, which has a 6.5-million tonnes a year refinery in Mumabi, wants to shift out the metropolis as lack of space had made its expansion plans difficult.

HPCL wants to build a 9-million tonnes unit and then double it at a later date. A consultant for doing detailed feasibility report (DFR) will be appointed soon and a decision on setting up the refinery would be finalized shortly.The land offered for the refinery is located between Ratnagiri and Raigad districts. The new facility would be completed in 48 months from the date of receiving all approvals, officials said.

“The refinery in Mumbai is spread in 350 acres while for refinery of such a size at least 2,000 acres are required. We think that when the new refinery is completed, the Mumbai facility might be shut down,'' the official added.HPCL has a 7.5-million tonnes-a-year unit at Vizag in Andhra Pradesh and is also building a 9-million tonnes plant at Bhatinda in Punjab in joint venture with Lakshmi N. Mittal.

The commissioning of feasibility study is being done and is expected to be completed in six months. The investment decision will be made based on the feasibility study. The Maharashtra Government has been asked for 2,500-3,000 acres for the project.

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Centre to select new chiefs for ONGC, BPCL and IOC ………..by…………Sujay Mehdudiain the HINDU newspaper.


NEW DELHI: The government will soon set in motion the process for selecting new chairmen and managing directors for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), whose heads are scheduled to retire early next year.

The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PSEB) will hold interviews to select the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of ONGC on October 19. Current incumbent R. S. Sharma retires on January 31, 2011, on attaining the superannuation.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry sources said that among those in the fray are: Sudhir Vasudeva, Director (Offshore), ONGC; D.K. Saraf, Director (Finance), ONGC; and R. S. Butola, Managing Director, ONGC Videsh. Acting Director General of Hydrocarons S. K. Srivastava and OIL Director (Exploration) B. N. Talukdar have also applied for the job. Mr. Butola has been credited with giving a new direction and shape to India's energy security by securing prolific oil and gas assets in various countries which have benefited the oil-starved nation in a great manner.

In addition to this, an application from the private sector has been made in shape of Ravi Narayan Bastia, a former ONGC employee, who quit in 1996 to join Reliance Industries (RIL) and now wants to return back to ONGC. At present, Mr. Bastia is senior Vice-President heading exploration operations in RIL and will have to fight it out with his former colleagues in ONGC and the petroleum sector to make the cut.

The PSEB will hold interviews to select the new Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on September 29.Once again, Mr. Butola and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Director (Refineries) R. K. Singh are among the 17 candidates in the fray for the top job at the nation's largest oil firm.

The vacancy for IOC Chairman arose after the government declined an extension of service to Sarthak Behuria till his superannuation age in 2012. B. M. Bansal, Director (Business Development), was appointed acting Chairman till a permanent candidate was selected.The PSEB will also hold interviews to select Chairman and Managing Director for BPCL on September 28.

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