Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Thavakkara, Kannur

A Glorious Heritage (1860 – 1871)

Around 1860’s, the world witnessed vast industrial development that ultimately lead to an increase in petroleum refineries. This was also the time that our historical journey began as Burma Oil Company.



Although incorporated in Scotland in 1886, the Burma Oil Company became an important player in the South Asian market that grew out of an enterprise named Rangoon Oil Company (formed in 1871) to refine crude oil produced from primitive hand dug wells in Upper Burma independently.





Breaking Ground (1886 – 1889)

The search for oil and gas in India began in 1886, when Mr. Goodenough of McKillop Stewart Company successfully drilled a well near Jaypore, Upper Assam, striking oil.

However, it wasn’t until 1889 when the Assam Railway and Trading Company (ARTC) struck oil at Digboi that a chain reaction sparked off, marking the beginning of oil production in India.




The Birth of a Titan (1928)

While discoveries were being made and industries expanded, John D. Rockefeller and his business associates acquired control over numerous refineries and pipelines. With these acquisitions under their belt, they went on to form the Standard Oil Trust – a giant in its own right.



Observing this and to counter the growing significance of Standard Oil, three largest rivals - Royal Dutch, Shell and Rothschild’s - came together to form a single organisation called Asiatic Petroleum to market petroleum products in South Asia.



In 1928, Asiatic Petroleum (India) joined hands with the Burmah Oil Company, an active producer, refiner and distributor of petroleum products, particularly in Indian and Burmese markets to form the Burmah-Shell Oil Storage and Distributing Company of India Limited.