New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Kingfisher Airlines Saturday raised fuel surcharges by up to Rs.300 following successive rises in jet fuel prices. “Consequent upon successive increases in ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices, from midnight today (Saturday), the fuel surcharges of Kingfisher Airlines stands increased by Rs.200 for sectors below 750 km and by Rs.300 for sectors above 750 km,” a company statement said. The private carrier’s move comes after the state-run oil companies increased ATF prices three times in one-and-a-half months, following the rise in crude oil prices in the international market. On April 15, the oil companies raised jet fuel prices by about 6.7 percent. ATF now costs Rs.31,926 per kilolitre in Delhi. Despite successive rises in ATF prices, the airlines, particularly the low-cost carriers, remained reluctant to raise fares, fearing a fall in passenger load. “Full-service carriers were not raising fares, so we were hesitant to do so as we have to maintain some price differential,” a low-cost carrier official said. However, with Kingfisher hiking the fares, other airlines are now expected to follow suit, officials said.

Mumbai, April 18 (Inditop) The Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Ltd has surrendered the export-oriented unit (EOU) status of its refinery in Gujarat’s Jamnagar to sell fuel in the domestic market.

“The refinery will now operate as a non-EOU refinery to cater to increasing demand of petroleum products in the country,” the company said in a statement.

The Jamnagar refinery has a processing capacity of 660,000 barrels per day.

Reliance Industries had earlier decided to merge its refining subsidiary Reliance Petroleum with itself to achieve operational synergies.

After the merger, the company will have a combined capacity of 1.23 million barrels per day.

The move would also help the company save on taxes as it would have to pay higher taxes if it were to continue with the EOU status.