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Indian Oil Corp Ltd’s Overview, History, & Operations

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Synopsis:

One of the most important companies in India’s oil and gas sector, Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOCL), was established in 1959. Over the years, the company has reached many milestones. Today, it is the largest refiner in India with a refining capacity of 70.25 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA).
 

It has more than 60,000 marketing touchpoints; therefore, IOCL has an extremely wide petroleum marketing and distribution network. Through its brand “Indane,” it supplies LPG to crores of Indians every year. Moreover, its fuel stations under the brand name “IndianOil” provide petrol and diesel to motorists pan-India. IOCL has a business presence across the entire hydrocarbon value chain.

 Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOCL) - Overview 

The government-owned Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOCL) is one of India's leading companies in the oil and gas industry. Established in 1959, the company is present in the entire hydrocarbon value chain.

Due to its business interests in the exploration and production of crude oil & gas, refining, marketing, and pipeline transformation, the company has a diverse business portfolio. Besides, it is famous for distributing LPG under the brand name “Indane.” Moreover, the company has fuel stations all over India under the brand name “IndianOil.”

About Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOCL)

The following table provides the most important facts about IOCL:

Aspect

Details

Founded Year

1959

Industry Type

Oil and Gas Industry

Headquarters

New Delhi

Key People

Mr. V. Satish Kumar (Chairman)

Number of Countries Present In

42

Market Cap

₹2,16,408 (crores) as available from the BSE’s website on October 24, 2024.

Total Employees

30,321

Additional Read: What is Demat Account: Importance, Features and Types 

History of Indian Oil Corp Ltd

Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOCL) has had a stupendous journey so far. Here are its major historical milestones:

·   1959 – Indian Oil Company Limited was incorporated with its first office at Bombay.

·   1962 – It inaugurated the first public sector refinery in Guwahati. It also started the first fuel station at Anjar. Besides, the company started exporting cargo to Bhutan.

·   1964 – This was a major year, as Indian Refineries Ltd was merged with Indian Oil Co Ltd. The merged entity was named as Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

·   1969 – The company commissioned Madras Refineries Ltd.

·   1972 – It launched SERVO – the first indigenous lubricant brand in India.

·   1975 – IOCL inaugurated a fuel station at Leh – the world’s highest altitude fuel station.

·   1982 – It commissioned a refinery in Mathura.

·   1995 – Another major year in the company’s journey, as IOCL’s shares were listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

·   1998 – The company made a foray into the LNG business.

·   2002 – It acquired a controlling stake in IBP Co. Ltd. It also launched Autogas.

·   2010 – The Central Government awarded it the status of a “Maharatna Company.”

·   2020 – The company played a leading role in the pan-India rollout of BS-VI fuels.

Indian Oil Corp Ltd’s Share Price  

IOCL’s share price has mostly been on an upward trajectory in 2024. Between January 1 and October 23, 2024, IOCL’s share price moved up by 17.4%, while the benchmark Sensex jumped by 10.8%. This means IOCL outperformed Sensex by 6.2%.

IOCL’s share price closed at ₹130.35 on January 1, 2024. It rose sharply after that and reached its 52-week high of  ₹196.8 on February 8, 2024. However, its 52-week low is ₹85.51, which it hit on October 26, 2023. The vast gap between its 52-week high and 52-week low shows that the stock is quite volatile.

The standard deviation in the daily returns of IOCL between January 1 and October 23, 2024, was 2.4% compared to the 1.3% standard deviation in the daily returns of Sensex in the same time frame. This shows that IOCL has been much more volatile than Sensex in 2024 so far.

While IOCL can provide higher returns than Sensex, it can also be more volatile than the benchmark, which makes it riskier.

Operations of Indian Oil Corp Ltd

IOCL has business interests across the entire hydrocarbon value chain. It is actively involved in the exploration and production of crude oil and gas. Besides, it is present in refining, marketing, and pipeline transportation. It also has business interests in the marketing of gas and globalisation of downstream operations.

The company has a global footprint through its subsidiaries in the US, the UAE, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Netherlands. It has more than 15 joint ventures with diverse business interests with leading business partners from India and abroad.

IOCL is the largest Indian refiner with a refining capacity of 70.25 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). As per its Annual Report for FY 2023-24, the oil and gas major has plans to increase its refining capacity to 87.9 MMTPA by 2026.

Business divisions of Indian Oil Corp Ltd

The main business divisions of IOCL are explained below:

  1. Refining Division: IOCL operates the highest number of refineries in India. With 70.25 MMTA refining capacity, it is the largest refining company in the country. Over the years, the company has commissioned many grassroot refineries in India.

  2. Pipelines Division: The company has a network of around 20,000 km long pipelines for crude oil, petroleum product, and gas. The throughput capacity of its pipeline network is approximately 125 MMTA of oil and nearly 49 million metric standard cubic metres per day of gas. 

  3. Research and Development (R&D) – IOCL set up its R&D centre in 1972 in Haryana. Its R&D efforts have already made terrific contributions to segments like lubricants, refining, and petrochemicals. Now, it is concentrating on emerging areas like hydrogen, solar energy, and bioenergy.

  4. Marketing: IOCL has over 60,000 marketing touchpoints. Therefore, it has one of the widest petroleum marketing and distribution networks in Asia. From the Himalayas in the North to Kerala in the South, from Gujarat in the West to Nagaland in the East, the company has a footprint all across India.

  5. Petrochemicals: As India is one of the fastest-growing markets for petrochemicals, IOCL is steadfast in its commitment to this division. The company is planning to invest a whopping ₹30,000 crore in this division over the next few years.

  6. Natural Gas: IOCL is heavily investing in the natural gas value chain by focusing on LNG sourcing, by participating in import terminals for LNG, and by working on cross-country pipelines for natural gas.

  7. Exploration and Production (E&P): One of IOCL’s stated objectives is to improve upstream integration. Hence, the company is focusing on E&P activities in and outside India.

  8. Explosives: IOCL has a significant presence in the bulk explosives and blast-based services segment in India. It operates 12 bulk explosive plants catering to the needs of coal, iron ore, and related industries in India.

  9. Cryogenics: Its product range includes aluminium cryocans, small-sized industrial use cryogenic vessels, etc.

Products and services of Indian Oil Corp Ltd

The company provides products and services in these segments: Motor Spirit, High Speed Diesel, Liquified Petroleum Gas, and Aviation Turbine Fuel. It has launched many products over the years, including SERVO (a major automotive lubricant brand in India).

In terms of its retail business, the company has a network of fuel stations under the brand name “IndianOil” that provide petrol and diesel all over India. It is also into the distribution of LPG under the brand name “Indane.”

Besides, the company has launched several brands of premium automotive fuel for motorists under names, like “XP95,” “XtraGreen,” “XP100,” etc.

Additional Read: Difference Between Sensex and Nifty

Foreign subsidiaries of Indian Oil Corp Ltd

The foreign subsidiaries of IOCL and their business operations are explained in the table below:

Subsidiary’s Name

Business Interests

IOCL (USA) Inc., USA

Participation in Shale Gas Asset Project

IndianOil (Mauritius) Ltd., Mauritius

Terminalling, Retailing, Aviation Refuelling & Bunkering

IOC Middle East FZE, UAE

Lube Blending & Marketing of Lubricants & Base Oil

Lanka IOC PLC, Sri Lanka

Retailing, Terminalling & Bunkering

IndOil Global B.V., Netherlands

Investment company for E&P Assets in Canada and the UAE

IOC Sweden AB, Sweden

Investment company for E&P Project in Venezuela and Battery Technology

Company in Israel

IOCL Singapore Pte Ltd., Singapore

Crude Oil trading, Import/Export of petroleum products and Investment

Company for E&P Assets & Alternative Energy Technology Company

Wrapping Up

If you have a trading account and are keen on the oil & gas sector, you may feel tempted to invest in Indian Oil Corp Ltd. After all, it is one of the leading players in its sector in India. Besides, it is a Maharatna company. That said, investing in a stock is as much a function of its financial performance as it is of its valuations. Hence, before investing in IOCL, check its valuations and compare them with those of its peers. If you still think it is worth investing in, go ahead.     

Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.

This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Indian Oil Corporation Limited, and what are its primary business operations?

Answer Field

IOCL is a major company in the oil and gas industry in India. Due to its diverse business interests, it is present in the entire hydrocarbon value chain. It has business interests in the exploration and production of crude oil & gas, refining, marketing, and pipeline transformation.

When was Indian Oil Corporation Limited founded, and what is its history?

Answer Field

IOCL was incorporated in 1959. However, 1964 turned out to be a major year in its history, as Indian Refineries Ltd was merged with Indian Oil Co Ltd in that year. And, the merged entity was named Indian Oil Corporation Limited. IOCL’s shares were listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in 1995. Then, in 2010, it got the status of a “Mahratna Company.”

What is the significance of Indian Oil Corp Ltd in Indias energy sector?

Answer Field

The importance of IOCL can be understood from the fact that it is the largest Indian refiner, as it has a refining capacity of 70.25 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). With over 60,000 marketing touchpoints, it has one of the widest petroleum marketing and distribution networks in the whole of Asia.

What types of products and services does Indian Oil Corporation offer?

Answer Field

IOCL has a major presence in the automotive lubricant market through its brand called "SERVO." It distributes LPG under the brand name "Indane" and has a network of fuel stations under the brand name “IndianOil.”

How does the Indian Oil Corporation contribute to sustainable energy and environmental initiatives?

Answer Field

The company has a wholly-owned subsidiary called "Terra Clean Ltd." which is meant to focus on sustainable energy. Besides, IOCL has a strategic agreement with Panasonic Energy Company from Japan. This agreement explores opportunities related to advanced cell manufacturing of Lithium-ion batteries in India.

What are the major milestones and achievements of Indian Oil Corporation Limited?

Answer Field

In 1962, IOCL inaugurated the first public sector refinery in Guwahati.  Then, in 1969, it commissioned Madras Refineries Ltd. IOCL launched SERVO, the first indigenous lubricant brand in India in 1972. It got listed on the BSE in 1995. In 2020, it played a key role in the rollout of BS-VI fuels in India.

Who are the key executives and management team members at Indian Oil?

Answer Field

Its key executives and management team members include Mr. V. Satish Kumar (Chairman), Mr. N. Senthil Kumar (Director, Pipelines), Mr. Anuj Jain (Director, Finance), Mr. Alok Sharma (Director, Research and Development), Ms. Rashmi Govil (Director, Human Resources), and Mr. Arvind Kumar (Director, Refineries).

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