Petroleum Philately of India: Guwahati Refinery

Petroleum: Formed millions of years ago, from organic matters, under the crust of earth, through natural high pressure and extreme temperature.  Archaeological findings indicate the use of raw petroleum in the days of Pharaohs. In twentieth century and till date, it has become a mighty industrial force to be reckoned with. Its application ranges from illumination to cooking to many others. The modern civilisation is catapulted by and also till date is driven by petroleum oil and its derivatives. Complex hydrocarbons are broken down through refining processes to produce petrol (gasoline), diesel (gas oil), naphtha, aviation fuel, and petrochemicals etc. Natural gas is also found along with petroleum deposits which serves both as fuel as well as feed-stock for several industries.

In recent times, petroleum has turned to be the cause of war and it also happened to be the main driving force of machineries of warfare. On one hand, it has provided several advantages to mankind say greater mobility etc., on the other hand it is the root cause of geopolitics and global warming. The worst part is that hydrocarbons being the chief constituents, it is primarily responsible for carbon emission.

Philately: A hobby of collection and study of postage stamps and allied materials.

Petroleum philately: A special branch of thematic or topical philately, which deals exclusively with petroleum related philatelic materials.

Petroleum philatelic materials: These are postage stamps, revenue stamps, souvenir/miniature sheets, mini-sheets, My Stamps, First Day Covers, Special Covers, aerograms, inland letters, postcards, picture postcards, labels/panes etc., and have images / pictures / sketches, postage marks, franking marks, logos, USPs, trademark etc., on petroleum oil, natural gas and petrochemicals. It spans entire value chain of petroleum industry ranging from prospecting, exploration and production, refining, storage and transportation, distribution and marketing, research and development, to the end-use. Under its gambit, there are personalities, ranging from scientists to industrialists to oil barons, related to the said industry, business and regulatory entities, and a much more. Related occupational hazards and safety issues are also included. Though last but not the least, oil conservation and concern for environment are featured too.

My Stamp - Guwahati refinery

My Stamp: It is a personalised postage stamp issued by India Post. A sort of se-tenant type of pair where one part is the postage stamp and the selvage part may have a company's logo, picture etc. The face value of a stamp is INR 5. The price is INR 300 per mini sheet. One mini-sheet contains 12 stamps and they can be used by post. Any individual can have her/his My Stamp with photograph from India Post for INR 300. This was introduced during World Philatelic Exhibition (INDIPEX 2011) held in New Delhi during 12-18 February 2011. It has become popular for Indian corporate and business entities. For bulk order, the minimum number of My Stamp Sheets to be ordered is 5,000. Thus, the minimum cost for one corporate My Stamp is INR 1,500,000. However, it has caught the fancy of corporate houses as it is a great publicity material. So far, with the issue of about 225 My Stamps for various organisations, India Post has generated revenue worth nearly INR 340 million.

Full sheet of My Stamp

My Stamp of Guwahati refinery of Indian Oil Corporation Limited was issued on 03 August 2023, on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee (60th glorious years) of successful operation of the refinery.

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The very first petroleum themed commemorative postage stamp on Indian petroleum industry was issued on 01 January 1962 on ‘Gauhati’ (changed later as Guwahati) refinery.

The first petroleum stamp of India

This particular stamp has several ‘firsts’ in its credit:

1.First petroleum stamp of India

2.Based on first public sector petroleum refinery in post-independence period

3.Released on first January of the year 1962

4.The refinery was dedicated to the citizens of India by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India on first day of the first month of 1962

Doesn’t it sound incredible!

It may not be out of point to mention that first petroleum product pipeline in India was laid from Guwahati refinery of the state of Assam to Siliguri of the state of West Bengal.

During pre- and post-independence era, petroleum oil business in India was under control of foreign oil companies viz. Standard Oil Company, Esso, Caltex, Burmah Oil Company etc. Since oil was of strategic business, Government of India incorporated Indian Refineries Limited on 22 Aug 1958. With an authorized capital of INR 30 crores, it was assignied the task of setting up of two oil refineries, one each at Guwahati, Assam and at Barauni, Bihar and also oil pipelines. Firoz Gandhi was appointed first Chairman (1958–1960) of Indian Refineries Limited .

Subsequently, another purely national oil enterprise called Indian Oil Company Limited was incorporated under Companies Act 1956 on 30 June 1959, in order to look after the oil marketing activities. Indian Oil Company Limited was entrusted with responsibilities to market petroleum products that would be produced by two refineries, under construction by Indian Refineries Limited, one each at Guwahati and Barauni. S Nijalingappa was the first Chairman (1959–1962) and B Arora was the first Managing Director of Indian Oil Company Limited.

In order to integrate the supply chain and bring synergy, in Sept 1964, Indian Refineries Limited was dissolved and merged with Indian Oil Company Limited. The new entity was named as Indian Oil Corporation Limited - a 100% Indian company was born. P. A. Gopalakrishnan was appointed as the first chairman (1964–1966) of Indian Oil corporation Ltd. .

Indian Oil corporation Ltd., established the refinery at a place called Noonmati in Guwahati, on the bank of mighty river Brahmaputra. It is spread over an area of 147 acres of land. The refinery was constructed with Romanian collaboration. The refinery processes petroleum crude oil, exclusively of Assam origin, produced by companies like Oil India Ltd., and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. The initial capacity of the refinery was 0.75 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). The refining capacity was enhanced to 1.0 MMTPA in 1986. The capacity is expected to be expanded further to 1.2 MMTPA during the current year 2023. Presently it produces LPG, naphtha, petrol (gasoline), kerosene. aviation fuel, gas oil (diesel), and coke (raw and calcined).

However, the production of refined products by the refinery was in excess of local demand. Later on, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., laid Guwahati - Siliguri pipeline of 435 km of length and capacity of 1.4 million metric tonnes per annum for movement of refined products from refinery to the demand centres, outside the state. 

On 01 January 1962, the refinery was dedicated to the nation by Jawaharlal Nehru. A commemorative stamp was issued on the occasion.

The first petroleum theme stamp of India

The interesting part in the design of the commemorative stamp was depicting a one-horn Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Unicornis), along with refinery complex. Rhino is the state animal of the state of assam which reflects its rich natural treasures. The creature is a threatened species. It has been listed as vulnerable on IUCN Red List. 

One-horn Indian Rhino

During his royal visit in December 1911, George V went for a hunting trip to Nepal. In the said hunting party, His Highness was accompanied by Maharaja of Nepal. A total 18 number of defenceless rhinos were killed by the elephant mounted hunting team. In the old photograph, both the dignitaries could be seen seated in their howdahs, on elephant back.

Source: Internet

Once upon a time, Indian rhinos were found in abundance in Indo-Gangetic Plain. However, due to overhunting, poaching, loss of grassland, habitat etc., the number of this otherwise gentle herbivore creature, has dwindled. 

In the bygone era of Indian Maharajas and Nawabs, the organised fight among animals was a way of entertainment for riches and nobles. The fights between two elephants or a pair of rhinos etc., were hosted with much fanfare. While the owner of the winning side would receive prize money, the defeated and injured animal would left to die. A fighting of rhinos, hosted by Maharaja of Baroda, during the visit of H.R.H Albert Edward, Prince of Wales to India (November 1875 - January 1876).

Horns of dilemma (Source: Internet)

During 2000-2006, more than 150 rhinos have been killed by the poachers in Assam. In Assam, rhinos are found in Kaziranga and Manas National Park, and a few other places. About 85% of Indian rhinos of the world are located in Assam. Moreover, 70% of the rhino population has been concentrated in Kaziranga National Park which itself is a big risk for the animal. However, the process of conservation and creation of awareness among local dwellers are yielding positive results.

A Special Cover was issued on 50th year

Availability of crude petroleum oil in the state of Assam was found in 1825 by the British authorities. 

A Special Cover issued on 60th year - with My Stamp

The discovery of an oilfield in Naharkatiya, Assam in 1953, prompted the government to set up a refinery for proper processing of the crude oil. 

A Special Cover issued on 60th year - with stamp on Indian Oil

Reverse of the special cover

A tug of war began between the central government and state government of Assam. Central government wanted to set up a refinery outside the state boundary while people of Assam wanted it within the state. It took the shape of matter of prestige and honor of the people of Assam, resulting in statewide agitation. 

The story unfolded like this.

For refining of newly found Assam crude, central government proposed Barauni, Bihar as suitable location for setting up a new refinery. Assam Oil Company preferred Calcutta (now Kolkata) of the state of West Bengal as the location of refinery. There were justifications for both locations. Barauni scored brownie points because after processing, finished products could be used to meet the demand of petroleum products of eastern and part of northern India. The port facilities of Calcutta port were a gateway for coastal evacuation of refined products. That was its plus point. On the other hand, a strong demand for local site was raised by local population as well as politicians. 

As the matter started heating up, in the year 1956, the All-Assam Oil Refinery Action Committee (AAORAC) was constituted by the local people to press for the demand of local refinery. It spearheaded the agitation demanding that the refinery to process Assam crude must be set up in Assam. It was a long-drawn people's movement which spanned from 1955 to 1957.  Schools, colleges, shops, government offices etc., were frequently shut and picketing by the students was a common sight. So was the law-and-order situation with frequent street fight between agitators and law enforcing authorities.  It was a very much heard slogan chanted by the student activists:

"Ami tez dim kintu tel nidiu." (We shall give blood but not oil.)

At one point of time, Jawaharlal Nehru was forced to comment:

“The question of refinery in Assam could not be resolved through violence; it should be decided only on the basis of feasibility”.

To find an amicable solution, in September 1956, an eleven-member Expert Committee was formed by the central government. S Basistha, the then Advisor to Ministry of Railways was appointed as head of the committee. There was one member, each from Romania and France in the committee too. Incidentally though were representatives from Assam Oil Company in the committee, no member from government of Assam was taken onboard. Jawaharlal Nehru visited the state on 18 October 1956 and he faced the anger of public. 

The first Prime Minister of India - Jawaharlal Nehru

People lined up the road through which he passed. They shouted slogans and hold placards. Some of the slogans read:

"Tel Sodhanagar Asomot Laage, Asomor Udyogikaran Hoboi Laagibo, and Asomor Daabi Maaniboi Laagibo.

(The oil refinery must be in Assam; Assam must be industrialised and the demand of Assam has to be recognised)."

In June 1957, the central government concluded that Barauni would be the most suitable place for processing of Assam crude. It goes without saying this decision added fuel to the already raging fire. Oil Refinery Action Committee began preparation for mass movement. All Assam general strike was observed in the state on 29 July 1957. Everything in the state came to a grinding halt. Several agitators were arrested but the spirit of the people remained high. The central government appointed Foster Wheeler as a consultant to find out a solution and to end the agitation. Finally, government decided and announced that instead of one refinery, there would be two refineries, one each at Barauni, Bihar and at Noonmati, Assam. Subsequently, the agitation in Assam was withdrawn. 

The Indian government entered into an agreement with government of Romania to establish a refinery in Assam. The government of Romania provided a soft loan of INR 5.6 crores to Indian government, at an interest rate of 2.5%, repayable in phases. The total cost of construction of the refinery was estimated as INR 17.7 crores. Romania provided technical knowledge, did engineering design, imparted training to Indian engineers (several went to Romania for hands-on exposure). Actual construction was done by Indians under the guidance and supervision of Romanian experts. Equipment and machineries of about 18,500 tonnes were shipped through marine route from Romania, landed at Kolkata (then Calcutta) port and moved upwards to Noonmati project site of Guwahati.

The refinery was finally set up in Guwahati, Assam. Another refinery came up in Barauni, Bihar but that is a different story.

The certificate

It will not be out of point to mention that my petroleum philatelic collection 'Assam - The Maternity Block of Indian Petroleum Industry', under invitee category, was exhibited during ASSAMPEX-2022, the 4th State Level Philatelic Exhibition of Assam, held at Guwahati. A certificate and a trophy were awarded.

Webliography:

https://iocl.com/pages/guwahati-refinery

https://webology.org/data-cms/articles/20220324065610pmwebology%2016%20(1)%20-%201%20pdf.pdf

Disclaimer:

The noble objective of this blog, is to promote the hobby of philately through images of stamps, a few pictures and related narration. The scans of My Stamp, featured in this blogpost are mine while others (sourced from internet) are the properties of their respective owners. No intention to infringe any type of copyright. 

The information provided in the article is for general informational purposes only. All information is provided in good faith. This is only for sharing of knowledge of philately with philatelist fraternity of the world. No commercial or political angle, whatsoever, is involved. This is not a historical document. Apologies in advance, should there be any inadvertent mistake or error. Under no circumstances, I shall have any liability for reliance on any information provided in the story.

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