Reliance wants bigger slice of aviation fuel market, seeks access to PSU pipelines

Reliance wants bigger slice of aviation fuel market, seeks access to PSU Rebek eliance Industries Ltd is seeking access to pipelines and storage facilities constructed by public sector oil companies to enhance its share of the aviation turbine fuel (ATF) market at some of Asia's busiest airports.

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The company, which produces a quarter of India's ATF, aims to use storage depots near Delhi airport and pipelines leading to Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad airports to increase its fuel supply capabilities.

Currently, Reliance supplies smaller volumes of ATF compared to state-owned firms.

The firm's proposal is part of its comments on a draft regulation by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory

Board (PNGRB), which aims to allow any supplier access to pipelines serving existing and future airports to foster competition and reduce fuel costs.

While India's fuel market is open, the busiest airports receive ATF through pipelines developed over decades by state-owned companies such as Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL). For more than a decade, Reliance has sought access to these pipelines, particularly for ATF supply to Mumbai airport.

Reliance argues that the common carrier pipeline scope should include associated storage facilities and pumping stations at off-site oil terminals, which are integral to the ATF supply chain.