Question

The first oil refinery in India was set up at ?
a). Bongaigaon
b). Guwahati
c). Naharkatia
d). Digboi

Answer 1

Hint: Assam is one of the most resource rich states of India. Digging for oil started in 1889 and the first refinery of Asia was set up in December 1901.

Complete answer: Oil in Assam was discovered because of the operations of Assam Railway and Trading Company's work in the area. The elephants of the company, who were hauling logs, were found to have traces of oil in their feet. This led to discovery of oil in the region.
Let us look at the options given to us :
Option (A ) Bongaigaon is not the correct answer as the Bongaigaon refinery was announced in 1969 and the construction began in 1972.
Option (B ) Guwahati is not the correct answer as it was set up at Noonmati in 1962.
Option (C ) Naharkatia is not correct as though Naharkatiya has petroleum and gas reserves, it doesn’t have a refinery.
Option (D ) Digboi is the correct answer as it was near Digboi that the Assam Railway and Trading Co. was working and in 1889 a a group of men erected a 20 meter high thatch covered wooden structure, marking the establishment of the first well at Digboi (Well No. 1 or the Discovery well). Assam Oil Company was formed in 1889 and the first refinery in India was set up 1901. The Digboi refinery is not under Indian Oil and though its production is low, it is one of the oldest operational refineries in the world.

Therefore the correct answer is option(D ).

Note: Guwahati refinery is the first public sector refinery in India. Also, the first pipeline constructed in India to transport crude oil was from Naharkatiya to Noonmati.