India’s Reliance Petroleum has started processing crude oil at its new refinery, creating the world’s biggest refining complex. The $6 billion project will make the oil complex in Jamnagar in Gujarat the world’s single biggest supplier of fuels to the global market, pumping out 1.24 million bpd of ultra-clean fuels.

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has also commenced production of hydrocarbons in its KG-D6 block of Krishna Godavari Basin with the production of crude oil on 17th September 2008. The field is initially producing about 5,000 barrels of crude per day and is expected to reach its peak hydrocarbon production of 5,50,000 BOEPD over the next six to eight quarters.

A first of its kind hydrocarbons production from any deep water field in the country, Reliance KG-D6 will account for 40% of country’s current indigenous hydrocarbon production. It is estimated that the production from KG-D6 facility will save India an annual foreign exchange outflow of US$20 billion.

It is very important that India reduce its dependence on imported Oil. To do that we need to develop not only new oil exploration initiatives but also initiate new forms of energy and new ways of using it like – wind, solar, hydel and other new technologies.