Karnataka: MRPL starts HSD supplies to state transporter KSRTC, BMTC

MANGALURU: High speed diesel (HSD) that Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) produces at its 15mmtpa capacity refinery at Kuthethur here is fuelling Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses from September 2. MRPL under a contract with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) will sell 6-lakh kilo litres of HSD annually to the latter.
Currently, HPCL is executing the tender for supplying HSD to KSRTC and BMTC buses. HPCL in turn has tied up with MRPL for this entire supply which commenced from August 29 and the first load from HPCL to KSRTC with MRPL HSD under this tender was sent on September 2. This tie-up will see MRPL’s HSD direct marketing volumes go up by at least 20-times from the current 3000 KL to 6-lakh KL per annum.
A MRPL communiqué quoted Sathyanarayana H C, group general manager (marketing), MRPL stating, “This tie-up (with HPCL) is expected to increase MRPL’s direct sale of HSD in Karnataka by at least 20 fold in comparison to the company’s sales last financial year. MRPL is also expanding its retail sales network in Karnataka and Kerala with the construction of many retail outlets which are in final stages of their construction.”
Shivayogi C Kalasad, managing director, KSRTC said the state transporter has around 8500 buses of which around 4500 are now operational as per unlock guidelines. More buses will hit the roads as and when the ridership improves, he said. C Shikha, managing director, BMTC said around 4500 out of 6200 buses with the BMTC are currently operational. The state transporter as a whole including BMTC has around 25000 buses, Kalasad said.