Oil India
Corporate brand
UnclaimedIndian state-owned oil and gas exploration, production and transportation company.
Last updated October 14, 2026
Overview
Oil India Limited (OIL) is an Indian public-sector energy company focused primarily on the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas. Its activities also include the transportation of crude oil, production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), participation in refining through its investment in Numaligarh Refinery Limited, and international upstream projects. The company is overseen by India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and is one of the country’s principal state-controlled exploration and production enterprises. Oil India’s roots lie in the early history of petroleum extraction in Assam. Commercial oil activity in the region began around Digboi in the late nineteenth century, and new discoveries at Naharkatiya and Moran after Indian independence created the basis for a larger operating organization. Oil India was established on 18 February 1959 as a joint venture between the Burmah Oil Company and the Government of India. Burmah Oil initially held two-thirds of the equity and the Indian government held one-third. The ownership structure was revised to an equal partnership in 1961, before the government acquired full ownership in 1982. Oil India became a public limited company on 30 August 1995. The company developed an integrated operating base in Assam, particularly in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. Its infrastructure has included producing fields, drilling and exploration assets, processing facilities, power generation capacity, crude-oil pipelines and LPG production. A major element of its historical network is the long-distance crude-oil pipeline linking production areas in Assam with refineries and terminals farther west. The system was developed in the early 1960s and crosses difficult terrain and major waterways, including the Brahmaputra. Oil India later constructed a pipeline from Numaligarh to Siliguri, extending its transportation role and supporting the movement of crude from northeastern production areas. Although its historic production base is concentrated in northeastern India, Oil India has expanded its domestic and overseas exploration portfolio. The company has reported international interests across countries including Libya, Gabon, Nigeria, Yemen, Venezuela, the United States, Mozambique, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Russia. It has also participated in a multiproduct pipeline project in Sudan. Overseas activities are conducted through subsidiaries and international investment vehicles, including Oil India International Limited, Oil India International B.V., Oil India Sweden AB, Oil India (USA) Inc. and Oil India Cyprus-related operations. Oil India’s domestic business includes supplying natural gas to industrial, power and fertilizer customers in Assam and other markets. Its LPG plant at Duliajan complements its upstream production and processing activities. The company has also strengthened its position in downstream-linked assets through the acquisition of a majority interest in Numaligarh Refinery Limited from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, making the refinery a subsidiary of Oil India. In 2023, the Government of India granted Oil India Maharatna status on the recommendation of the Ministry of Finance. The designation placed the company among the highest category of central public-sector enterprises and reflected its strategic importance and scale. Oil India remains an active state-controlled energy company with a business model centered on upstream petroleum resources, pipeline transportation, gas monetization, selected downstream participation and international exploration.
History
Oil India’s history is closely connected with the development of petroleum production in Assam. Oil was discovered in the Digboi area in the late nineteenth century by a predecessor associated with the Burmah Oil Company. The northeastern region later became important again when exploration identified the Naharkatiya field in the early post-independence period, followed by activity around Moran and other nearby areas. These discoveries created a need for an operating organization capable of developing fields, transporting crude and supplying associated energy products. Oil India was incorporated on 18 February 1959 as a joint venture between Burmah Oil Company and the Government of India. The original arrangement gave Burmah Oil two-thirds of the equity and the Indian government one-third. In 1961, the ownership was revised to an equal partnership. During this period, Oil India expanded its production and transportation infrastructure around Duliajan in Assam. A gas-fired power plant was completed at Duliajan in 1961, supporting the company’s field operations and local industrial base. The company’s early infrastructure program also included a major crude-oil pipeline. A 401-kilometre pipeline from Duliajan to Guwahati was completed in 1962, and a further 756-kilometre extension from Guwahati to Barauni in Bihar was completed in 1963. The resulting system became a strategic link between northeastern oilfields and consuming or refining centers in other parts of India. Its route crosses rivers, agricultural areas, forests and wetlands, and includes pumping and repeater facilities designed for long-distance operation. Oil India subsequently expanded its transportation network with a 660-kilometre pipeline from Numaligarh to Siliguri, completed in November 2007. The Government of India progressively increased its control over the company. In 1981, it acquired the remaining Burmah Oil interest, making Oil India wholly government-owned. The company was converted into a public limited company on 30 August 1995 while remaining under state control. Its principal domestic production assets continued to be concentrated in the northeastern states, where Oil India became a major contributor to regional crude-oil and natural-gas output. Oil India developed beyond field production into a broader upstream and energy-infrastructure business. It produces crude oil and natural gas, transports crude through its pipeline system and manufactures LPG at its Duliajan facility. Natural gas is sold to industrial, fertilizer, electricity and other customers in Assam and other markets. The company has also taken part in downstream-linked activities through its majority investment in Numaligarh Refinery Limited, acquired from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. International expansion became another feature of the company’s portfolio. Oil India has held interests in exploration and production blocks in countries including Libya, Gabon, Nigeria, Yemen, Venezuela, the United States, Mozambique, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Russia. It has also participated in a multiproduct pipeline project in Sudan. These activities have been organized through a group of international subsidiaries and special-purpose investment entities. In 2023, Oil India was granted Maharatna status by the Government of India on the recommendation of the Ministry of Finance. This recognition placed it among the country’s largest and most strategically significant central public-sector enterprises. The company continues to operate as a state-controlled energy group whose core identity remains rooted in exploration and production, supported by crude transportation, gas commercialization, LPG, refinery participation and overseas upstream investments.
- 2023
Maharatna status awarded
[1]Oil India was elevated to Maharatna status, the highest classification for eligible Indian central public-sector enterprises.
- 2007
Numaligarh–Siliguri pipeline completed
[1]Oil India completed a 660-kilometre pipeline from Numaligarh to Siliguri in November.
- 2005
Sudan pipeline participation
[1]Oil India held a 10% participating interest in a 741-kilometre multiproduct pipeline project in Sudan.
- 1995
Conversion into a public limited company
[1]Oil India was converted into a public limited company on 30 August while remaining state-controlled.
- 1981
Oil India becomes wholly government-owned
[1]The Government of India acquired Burmah Oil’s remaining shares and took full ownership of the company.
- 1963
Pipeline extended to Barauni
[1]A 756-kilometre extension from Guwahati to Barauni in Bihar expanded the company’s crude transportation network.
- 1962
Duliajan–Guwahati pipeline opens
[1]The company completed a 401-kilometre crude-oil pipeline linking Duliajan with Guwahati.
- 1961
Government ownership rises to half
[1]The Government of India acquired an additional interest, changing the joint-venture ownership structure to an equal partnership.
- 1961
Duliajan power plant is completed
[1]Oil India completed its first gas-powered generating plant at Duliajan to support field and processing operations.
- 1959
Oil India is established
[1]Oil India was formed on 18 February as a joint venture between Burmah Oil Company and the Government of India to develop fields in Assam.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
State-owned Indian upstream energy company with a historic operating base in Assam and expanding domestic and international exploration activities.
Upstream petroleum
Crude oil
Crude oil is Oil India’s principal produced commodity. The company explores for and develops oilfields, with a historically important production base in Assam and broader domestic and international exploration interests. Produced crude is transported through Oil India’s pipeline infrastructure to downstream customers and refining destinations.
Upstream petroleum
Natural gas
Oil India explores for, produces and markets natural gas from its domestic assets and international interests. In northeastern India, the company supplies gas to industrial, fertilizer, power and other customers, making gas commercialization an important complement to its crude-oil business.
Gas products
Liquefied petroleum gas
Oil India produces LPG at its Duliajan facility in Assam. The product represents a processing and commercialization activity connected with the company’s petroleum operations and broadens its portfolio beyond unprocessed crude oil and natural gas.
Energy infrastructure · 1962
Crude-oil transportation
Oil India operates and develops crude-oil transportation infrastructure linking northeastern production areas with terminals, refineries and consuming regions. Its historical pipeline network includes the Duliajan–Guwahati–Barauni route and the later Numaligarh–Siliguri pipeline.
Energy services · 1959
Oil and gas exploration and production services
The company’s core operating offering is integrated exploration and production: geological evaluation, drilling, field development, hydrocarbon production and related operating capabilities. These activities support Oil India’s domestic fields and its overseas exploration portfolio.
Brand decisions
2023
Maharatna classificationStrategyBackground
The Government of India uses Maharatna status to recognize eligible central public-sector enterprises with substantial scale and strategic importance.
Action taken
Oil India was elevated to Maharatna status on the recommendation of the Ministry of Finance.
Aftermath
The designation confirmed Oil India’s position among India’s largest and most strategically significant central public-sector enterprises.
1995
Conversion into a public limited companyStrategyBackground
After becoming wholly government-owned, Oil India remained a major public-sector petroleum operator.
Action taken
The company was converted into a public limited company on 30 August 1995.
Aftermath
Oil India retained state control while adopting public-company status.
1981
Full government acquisition of Oil IndiaStrategyBackground
Oil India had operated as a joint venture with Burmah Oil Company since its formation in 1959.
Action taken
The Government of India acquired Burmah Oil’s remaining interest, making Oil India wholly government-owned.
Aftermath
The transaction established Oil India as a fully state-controlled petroleum company.
- Acquisition of majority stake in Numaligarh RefineryM&A
Background
Oil India sought to strengthen its position in the petroleum value chain beyond upstream production.
Action taken
The company acquired majority shares in Numaligarh Refinery Limited from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.
Aftermath
Numaligarh Refinery became a subsidiary of Oil India, increasing the group’s downstream participation.
Recent events
- 2023
Oil India receives Maharatna central public-sector enterprise status[1]
Other
The Government of India elevated Oil India to Maharatna status following a recommendation from the Ministry of Finance, placing it in the top category of central public-sector enterprises.
- 2022
Ranjit Rath becomes Chairman and Managing Director[1]
Leadership change
Ranjit Rath assumed the company’s chairman and managing director role after the tenure of Sushil Chandra Mishra.
Oil India acquires majority interest in Numaligarh Refinery[1]
M&A
Oil India acquired a majority shareholding in Numaligarh Refinery Limited from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, making the refinery a subsidiary and increasing Oil India’s downstream exposure.
Sources2 sources
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