Mathura Refinery: Difference between revisions

The refinery, which cost Rs.253.92 [[crore]]s to build, was commissioned on 19 January.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iocl.com/AboutUs/MathuraRefinery.aspx|title=IndianOil Corporation - Mathura Refinery|website=www.iocl.com}}</ref> Construction began on the refinery in October 1972. The foundation stone was laid by [[Indira Gandhi]], the former [[prime minister of India]]. The [[Fluid catalytic cracking|FCCU]] and Sulphur Recovery Units were commissioned in January, 1983. The refinery was commissioned with a refining capacity of 6.0 million [[tonne]]s per year and The refining capacity of this refinery was expanded to 7.5 million tonnes per year in 1989 by debottlenecking and revamping. A DHDS Unit was commissioned in 1989 for production of HSD with low [[sulphur]] content of 0.25% wt. ( max.). The present refining capacity of this refinery is 8.00 million tonnes per year.

It is located about 50 kilometers away from the [[Taj Mahal]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=271353&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2009-02-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608092104/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=271353&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |archivedate=2011-06-08 }}</ref> It is currently asking the Indian government to allow an expansion, raising the capacity to 11 million tonnes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/lsquoIOC-planning-to-raise-capacity-of-Mathura-refinery-to-11-million-tonnesrsquo/article15302853.ece|title=‘IOC planning to raise capacity of Mathura refinery to 11 million tonnes’|date=14 September 2008|publisher=|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> The refinery also wants to create a new garbage disposal site, which has garnered new outrage from environmental activists because the site will be located even closer to the Taj Mahal and Mathura. The Indian government hired a panel to examine the effects of the refinery on the Taj Mahal. The panel found that the air has high levels of  suspended particulate matter, caused by factory emissions, dust, construction, and exhaust from automobiles. These are causing the Taj Mahal to change color.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nysun.com/foreign/taj-mahal-once-white-turns-yellow-from-pollution/54585/|title=The Taj Mahal, Once-White, Turns Yellow From Pollution|publisher=}}</ref> However, contribution of Mathura Refinery for causing pollution has not been established.