India’s private retailers to re-open

Royal Dutch Shell, Reliance Industries and Essar Oil, which run private fuel retail operations in India, are refocusing their efforts in the country’s retail fuel market as the fall in global oil prices has made the business lucrative once again, the Financial Times reported. With oil prices hovering around US$50 per barrel, private players are able to make profits without subsidies. Essar Oil, which has already re-opened 560 of its 1,250 fuel stations, is seeking to commence operations at its remaining units by the end of January 2009. Reliance Industries is reportedly seeking to re-start operations at 1,400 of its fuel stations, while Shell has begun operations at a new location, and now has total of 36 operating fuel stations in India. (November 28, 2008)