QUESTION 15
GS1
15 marks
Petroleum refineries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many of the developing countries. Explain its implications.
WRITE IN
11 min
250 words
What the examiner wants
Explain why refineries locate near markets and ports rather than oilfields, and what this means.
ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Reasons: crude is cheap to transport in bulk (tankers, pipelines); refined products are many and costly to move; markets, ports and policy decide≈50 words
- 2Indian examples: coastal Jamnagar, Paradip, Kochi; inland Panipat, Mathura, Bina via pipelines≈50 words
- 3Implications: import dependence and port/pipeline infrastructure, energy security risks, regional industrial growth (petrochemicals), pollution near cities, strategic reserves≈50 words
- 4Developing countries: refineries as hubs for export of products (India's net product exports)≈50 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Weber's logicReasonsExamplesEconomic, strategic and environmental implicationsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Only listing refineries
- Not explaining implications, which the question asks
Draw this
- Map of Indian refineries and crude pipelines
Value addition
- DataIndia imports over 85% of its crude oil requirement.PPAC, 2023-24
- ExampleReliance's Jamnagar is the world's largest single-site refining complex.Company/industry data
- CaseMathura refinery's emissions near the Taj led to the Taj Trapezium Zone rulings.M.C. Mehta v Union of India, 1996
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 38 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Akansh Dhull · AIR 3 · Page 26 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 17 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Akansh Dhull · AIR 3 · Page 11 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 11 minutes, then get it checked.