IOC eyes petroleum retailing in Myanmar

1 min readUpdated May 19, 2025Sep 7, 20162:00 AM

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The state-run firm currently has marketing subsidiaries in Sri Lanka, Mauritius and West Asia. IOC, as part of its overseas expansion, is set to come up with its first international product pipeline to Nepal.

“We have submitted a bid to start retail outlets and also to set up LPG plants in Myanmar,” said Anish Aggarwal, director (pipelines) of IOC, on the sidelines of a summit organised by Project Management Institute.

The concept of this pipeline was first proposed in 2006 as a joint venture between IOC and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). However, it never took off as NOC was not keen on the project.

“We are awaiting the statutory clearance from the Nepal government. Once it is in place, the project can be commissioned with in 30 months,” Aggarwal added.

India exports $1.1 billion worth of petroleum products to Nepal annually.

It was in 2015 that IOC signed a memorandum of understanding with NOC to lay the pipeline between Raxaul in Bihar to Amlekhganj in Nepal at a capacity of 1.3 million tonnes per annum. The project would cost about Rs 275 crore and cover 41 km.

Currently, all petroleum products are trucked from IOC’s depot in Bihar to Nepal. The project includes expansion of the Amlekhgunj Amlekhganj depot.

Thirty-nine km out of the 41-km pipeline lie in India. Currently, IOC supplies petroleum products to Nepal from Haldia, Barauni and Karnal refineries.

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Questions & Answers

What is IOC's current international presence before this Myanmar venture?

The state-run firm currently operates marketing subsidiaries in Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and West Asia. This established international footprint forms the basis of its overseas expansion strategy.

What is the status of the international product pipeline project with Nepal?

IOC is awaiting statutory clearance from the Nepal government for the pipeline project. Once approved, the project is expected to be commissioned within 30 months. This is after a previous joint venture with NOC did not proceed.

How will the proposed pipeline to Nepal improve the current supply method?

The pipeline will replace the current method of trucking all petroleum products from IOC's depot in Bihar to Nepal. This change is expected to improve efficiency and reduce reliance on road transport.

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