Refinery Movement in Assam

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The Refinery Movement in Assam was a 1956-57 protest against the central government’s plan to build a petroleum refinery at Barauni, Bihar, using crude oil from Assam, instead of building it in Assam to serve the local industry and people.

Background
- After independence, a large new oil field was found at Naharkatiya in Upper Assam, expected to meet a big portion of India’s oil needs. With this oil, many in Assam argued for a refinery in the region.
- In 1956 talks about a refinery were held with the Assam Oil Company and the Burma Oil Company. A committee suggested Kolkata as the refinery site, with Dhubri (Assam) and Barauni (Bihar) as other options. The central government chose Barauni to build the refinery in the public sector, while the Assam Oil Company was reluctant to participate.

What happened in Assam
- On 3 April 1956, the Assam Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to establish a refinery in Assam, but the central government did not commit.
- The first major protest occurred on 28 August 1956, led by the opposition in the Assam Assembly and the All Assam Oil Refineries Action Committee. Shops, offices, and schools shut down; transport was disrupted; and clashes with police occurred in Guwahati and other places, with hundreds arrested.
- The August-September 1956 Assembly sessions debated the protest. Chief Minister Bishnuram Medhi warned against deciding refinery locations on the streets and urged calm, rational discussion instead.
- To study the issue, an eleven-member expert committee led by S. Bashishta was formed to review technical aspects (not political demands).

What followed
- When Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Assam on 18 October 1956, protests continued. In June 1957, the central government again chose Barauni, angering Assam.
- On 17 June, members from all parties in the Assam Assembly united to demand a refinery in Assam, citing development needs, rail transport, and employment.
- A Refinery Action Committee conference on 28-29 June outlined protest plans. The central government then asked for a feasibility study of refineries in Assam and Barauni, with Foster Wheeler advising the Planning Commission.

Resolution and outcome
- Eventually, the government decided to build two public-sector refineries with about 1 million tonnes capacity each, at Nunmati (Guwahati) and Barauni, under the Indian Oil Corporation.
- The Guwahati refinery at Nunmati began production in 1962 and was inaugurated on 1 January 1962 by Prime Minister Nehru.