North East India's largest refiner Numaligarh Refinery Ltd on Thursday said it has firmed up plans to diversify into exploration of crude oil within the next few months."This is the first time NRL is getting into exploration. We have already received our board's approval for this and in view of initial risk involvement, they have earmarked Rs 150 crore for the initial exploration purposes," NRL Managing Director S K Barua told in an interview here. The company has identified Namrup block in Dibrugarh and Mesaki in Tinsukia districts for foraying into exploration of crude. "By October this year, we are likely to get government approvals for the two blocks. Then by early next year, we will start exploration works," Barua said.
