Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) is an Indian state-owned oil and gas refining company headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It operates as a group company of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), which holds the majority stake. CPCL is engaged primarily in refining crude oil and producing a range of petroleum products for domestic distribution and export.
| Type | Public sector undertaking (subsidiary) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Oil and gas (refining) |
| Headquarters | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Parent | Indian Oil Corporation |
| Ownership | Government of India (through IOC) |
| Stock listing | BSE, NSE |
| Former name | Madras Refineries Limited (MRL) |
CPCL operates refining facilities that process crude oil into products such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), motor spirit, high-speed diesel, aviation turbine fuel, naphtha, kerosene, bitumen, lube base stocks, and various petrochemical feedstocks. Its output supports fuel marketing operations across southern India and contributes to feedstock supply for downstream industries.
The company was originally incorporated as Madras Refineries Limited (MRL), set up as a joint venture between the Government of India and foreign collaborators to establish a refinery in the Madras (now Chennai) region. The refinery was constructed at Manali on the northern outskirts of the city. Over the years, the ownership pattern was restructured, with Indian Oil Corporation acquiring a controlling stake and the company being renamed Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited.
CPCL operates two refineries:
The company's product slate includes fuels for transport and industrial use as well as specialty products such as paraffin wax, micro-crystalline wax, and lube base oils.
As a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation, CPCL functions within IOC's broader refining network while maintaining a separate listing on Indian stock exchanges. Its board includes nominees of the parent company and independent directors, and the Government of India exercises overall control through the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
CPCL is one of the major refining entities in southern India and plays a role in meeting the region's demand for petroleum products. Its Manali complex has historically been integrated with the petrochemical industrial cluster around north Chennai, supplying feedstocks to neighbouring chemical manufacturers. The Cauvery Basin Refinery enables the use of crude produced from onshore fields in Tamil Nadu, supporting domestic upstream production.