IOC opens petrol station in Mauritius

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), India’s largest oil firm, has opened its first petrol station in Mauritius, making it the second country after Sri Lanka where the company has begun fuel retailing.
"Our first retail outlet started operation at Tere Rouge in Port Luie, Mauritius," a senior company official said.

In all, IOC plans to open 25 petrol stations in Mauritius, which consumes about 1 mm tpy of petroleum products. IOC will be the fifth player in fuel retailing in the Island nation. Shell, Total, Caltex and Esso are leaders in fuel retailing in Mauritius.
"We plan to set up 10 retail outlets by 2005 end and the balance 15 would be set up in the second phase," he said.

The petrol station, from where IOC expects to sell 150 kilolitres of petrol and diesel in three months time, has a business centre besides convenience store. The business centre houses fax, photocopier, internet and conference facilities.
The company plans to invest a total of $ 18 mm in setting up a petroleum storage terminal and a network of 25 retail outlets in Mauritius.

IOC has already commissioned the 15,500 ton capacity state-of-the-art microprocessor-controlled storage terminal at Mer Rouge Port. Competing against the global giants, the company has grabbed 20 % of the aviation fuel market share.
"We also propose to set up a state-of-the-art laboratory at the Mer Rouge Terminal, which would obviate the need for sending fuel samples outside the country for testing, as is the system currently," the official added.