OREANDA-NEWS. August 31, 2011. 180,000 barrels per day (bpd) Bathinda refinery has started crude oil processing in trial runs on Aug 29 a source with direct knowledge of the plant told Reuters on Tuesday, with first products expected in four to five days.

The refinery is owned by Hindustan Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL), a joint venture between state-run Hindustan Petroleum and billionaire Lakshmi Mittal's Mittal Energy.

Project consultant Engineers India Ltd (EIL) had said last month the plant would start crude runs in August and be fully operational by November.