Digboi Oil Refinery : The Oldest Oil Refinery in Asia
Digboi is a town in Tinsukia district in the north-eastern part of the state of Assam, India. Digboi is known as the Oil City of Assam where the first oil well in Asia was drilled. Crude oil was discovered here in late 19th century. Digboi can proudly boast of two unique features: a 100-year-old extant oilfield and the world’s oldest operating oil refinery.
Etymologically the name “Digboi” came from the phrase “dig-boy-dig,” which is what the English told the labourers as they dug for crude oil.
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According to some sources the town’s history begins in 1867 when a small group of men from the Assam Railway and Trading Co. found their elephants’ legs soaked in black mud, that smelt somewhat like oil. The men began exploring more, and in 1889, the English started a small oil installation. India (and Asia) obtained its first refinery in Digboi in the year 1901. In the meantime the AOC (Assam Oil Company) was formed in 1899 to look after the running of the oil business in this area.
Digboi is emerging as a town of world-class streets and medical facilities. It is also known for the emerging entrepreneurs. This place is also famous rich cultural organizations and care societies.
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Though the current production from the area is not much high, Digboi Oil Refinery still has the excellence of being the world’s oldest unceasingly producing oilfield. For its historic profile Digboi oilfield is not just another oilfield, but also an oil museum of Assam with a century of history to be proud of.