(EnergyAsia, March 30 2011, Wednesday) — Shell Global Solutions said it has signed an agreement with the Centre for High Technology, India (CHT) to improve operational efficiency and business performance of three Indian refineries with a combined capacity of 32 million metric tons a year.

The Refinery Performance Improvement Program (RPIP) contract will be implemented over three years at the Mumbai refineries of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, and at Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd’s Mangalore plant.

Shell said it will aim to help the three coastal refineries achieve margin improvements of 25 US cents a barrel.

Secured via an open global tender initiated by CHT, Shell Global Solutions said its programme will focus on process optimisation, energy and loss management, plant availability and reliability including maintenance and inspection best practices, and refinery margin improvements.

“We are pleased to continue working closely with CHT in the execution of the RPIP programme for these three refineries. We believe Shell Global Solutions’ owner and operator experience makes us well-placed to support the implementation of practical technology solutions to suit refiners’ short, medium and long term priorities,” said Bart van de Ven, Head of Business Development for Shell Global Solutions in India.

“We invest in technology and innovation to develop more efficient ways to improve and maximise the performance of Indian refineries. Shell Global Solutions has wide operational experience, an established reputation for technological excellence and highly skilled specialists. We look forward to a continued and productive exchange of business and technological expertise,” said B D Ghosh, Executive Director of CHT.

Shell Global Solutions has worked with CHT in successfully implementing the Integrated Refineries Business Improvement Program at Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s Manali refinery, Bharat Petroleum’s Kochi refinery, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd’s Mathura refinery and Hindustan Petroleum’s Visakhapatnam refinery.

Shell Global Solutions is a network of independent technology companies in the Shell Group which provide technical consultancy and licensed technologies for the Shell Group and third party customers within the energy industry.