India's BPCL to shut Bina refinery in June for maintenance- sources

By Nidhi Verma

VARANASI, India (Reuters) - India's Bharat Petroleum Corp plans to shut its 156,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) Bina refinery in central India for about a month in June for maintenance, two sources familiar with the plan said.

The state-run refiner also plans to shut half of its 240,000 bpd Mumbai refinery in western India for three to four weeks in September-October for maintenance, the sources said.

BPCL's spokesperson did not respond to a Reuters' request for comments.

Sources said the details of the shutdown plan are "tentative" and dates will be finalised later.

"As of now plan is to shut Bina refinery from June 1, once Numaligarh (refinery) is back from its shutdown," one of the sources said.

Indian refiners have to shut units at refineries once every four years for maintenance and inspection.

Numaligarh Refinery Ltd plans to shut its 60,000-bpd plant in the northeast for about 40 days up to the end of April for maintenance, a company spokesperson told Reuters.

Sources said the planned shutdown of units at BPCL's refineries will not lead to shortages and the company will meet its supply commitments.

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Andrew Heavens)