IOC seeks rare jet fuel cargo on planned maintenance at Koyali refinery

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is seeking a rare aviation turbine fuel, or jet fuel, cargo - its first such requirement in more than three years.

The company is seeking about 5,000 tonnes of jet fuel for delivery into Vasco da Gama, on the west coast in Indian state of Goa, over March 25 to 28, industry sources said on Monday.

The state-owned company's rare spot requirement is due to a planned maintenance at its Koyali refinery in Gujarat, they said.

The tender closes on March 12 and is valid until March 13.

A second source said IOC had last sought a jet fuel cargo in 2011.

The company is expected to secure its diesel needs from Indian private refiners such as Reliance Industries and Essar Oil with whom it has term purchase contracts, an industry source said.

IOC is planning to shut four crude distillation units with a total capacity of 220,000 barrels-per-day and several secondary units at the Koyali refinery from March to April.

(Reuters)