DECEMBER 24: Madras Refineries, the major petro-products supplier to Tamil Nadu and the border districts of neighbouring states and the fuel source of a few indsutries like Madras Fertilisers, has drawn up an elaborate contingency plan to meet the millenium bug and ensure continuous supply of product under safe operating conditions.The plan covers, besides the operating systems, products supply, inputs storage, communications and personnel safety.
According to A Varadarajan, executive director (operations) of MRL, all the computer systems have been rectified for Y2K problems and audited by third party for Y2K compliance.
He says the Y2K control room will be operational from December 27 onwards and complete back-ups of all software will be taken on December 30 and 31. Advance control system will be shut down during the roll over period.Hot work in plant will be avoided. Critical system's service engineers will be available in the refinery from December 31 onwards.
The other major precautionary steps are that the plant conditions will not be changed till January 1, 2000. Adequate quantity of crude, products and water have been stored to meet exigencies.
Manpower is ensured by restricting leave to employees. Salary is to be paid on December 27.
Arrangements are made to man all the communication equipment. VHF, VSAT equipment will be used during emergency. Fire fighting systems will also be kept ready.
Emergency care centre will be operational round the clock during the roll over period and sufficient quantities of medicines also are kept ready. MRL had a turnover of Rs 3747 crore during 1998-99 and a profit after tax of Rs 205 crore. There is a plan to double its capacity from the current three million tonnes.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.